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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/35654-h.zip b/35654-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..652c6e3 --- /dev/null +++ b/35654-h.zip diff --git a/35654-h/35654-h.htm b/35654-h/35654-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..29e7f15 --- /dev/null +++ b/35654-h/35654-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3090 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> + <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + +<head> + + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii" /> + + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Stars In The Pool, + by Edna Kingsley Wallace. + </title> + + <style type="text/css"> + + #booktitle { + letter-spacing : 3px; + } + + .cen { + text-align : center; + font-weight : bold; + } + + .figcenter { + padding : 1em; + text-align : center; + font-size : 0.8em; + border : none; + margin : 0; + text-indent : 1em; + } + + .figcenter img { + border: none; + } + + .figcenter p { + margin: 0; + text-indent: 1em; + } + + .figcenter { + margin: auto; + } + + .h1 { + font-size: 2em; + margin: .67em 0; + } + + .h2 { + font-size: 1.5em; + margin: .75em 0; + } + + .h4 { + margin: 1.12em 0 ; + } + + .h5 { + font-size: .83em; + margin: 1.5em 0 ; + } + + .h6 { + font-size: .75em; + margin: 1.67em 0; + } + + .h1, .h2, .h4, .h5, .h6 { + text-indent : 0; + font-weight: bolder; + text-align : center; + } + + .pagenum { +/* visibility : hidden; comment out to display page numbers */ + position : absolute; + right : 2%; + font-size : 75%; + color : gray; + background-color : inherit; + text-align : right; + text-indent : 0; + font-style : normal; + font-weight : normal; + font-variant : normal; + } + + .sc, .smcap { + font-variant : small-caps; + } + + .sidenote { + position: absolute; + right: 87%; + margin-left: .5em; + margin-right: .5em; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + text-indent: 0; + } + + .trnote { + margin-left : 15%; + margin-right : 15%; + margin-top : 5%; + margin-bottom : 5%; + padding : 1em; + background-color : #f6f2f2; + color : black; + border : 1px dotted black; + } + + body { + margin-left : 15%; + margin-right : 10%; + } + + h1, h2, h3, h4, hr { + text-align : center; + } + + h2 + h3 { + margin-bottom : 2em; + } + + hr { + width : 50%; + } + + html > body hr { + margin-right : 25%; + margin-left : 25%; + width : 50%; + } + + hr.chapter { + margin-top : 6em; + margin-bottom : 4em; + } + + hr.full { + border: 1px black; + margin-right : 0%; + margin-left : 0%; + width: 100%; + } + + img.dropimg { + height: 3em; + float: left; + margin-left : .4em; + margin-top : .2em; + margin-right: .5em; + margin-bottom: 0; + border : 0; + } + + p { + text-align : justify; + margin-top : .5em; + margin-bottom : .5em; + text-indent : 0; + } + + p.dropimg:first-letter { + font-size : 0; + } + + p.spacer { + margin-top : 20em; + margin-bottom : 3em; + } + + </style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Stars in the Pool, by Edna Kingsley Wallace + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Stars in the Pool + A Prose Poem for Lovers + +Author: Edna Kingsley Wallace + +Release Date: March 22, 2011 [EBook #35654] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STARS IN THE POOL *** + + + + +Produced by Sigal Alon, Matthew Wheaton, Fox in the Stars +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<h1 id="booktitle">THE STARS IN THE POOL</h1> + + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img id="coverpage" border="0" src="images/cover.jpg" width="40%" alt="Cover" /> +</div> + +<p class="h1"><i>The</i><br /><span class="smcap">Stars In<br />The Pool</span></p> + + +<p class="h5"><i>A Prose Poem for Lovers</i></p> +<p class="h5"><span class="smcap">By</span></p> +<p class="h5"><span class="smcap">Edna Kingsley Wallace</span></p> + +<p class="h6"><i>Author of "Feelings and Things,"<br /> +"Wonderings and other Things"</i></p> + +<p class="h6"><span class="smcap">New York</span><br /> +E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY<br /> +681 <span class="smcap">Fifth Avenue</span></p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<p class="h4"><i>Copyright 1920</i><br /> + +<i>By E. P. DUTTON & CO.</i><br /> + +<i>All Rights Reserved</i></p> + +<p class="h4"><i>Printed in the United States of America</i></p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<p class="h2"><i>The Stars in the Pool</i></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> +<h2>I.</h2> + +<p class="dropimg"><img class="dropimg" src="images/dropcap_m.png" alt="M" />MIDMOST +<span class="sidenote"><i>The Castle</i></span> +of a forest of +weaving lights and +shadows, of dreaming +winds, and fragrance wandering, +there stood a great white +castle, fair, and gleaming in +the sun. Massive it was, yet +high as well, so that it caught +all colours of the dawn and +sunset, like unto some peak of +snow, remote from men.</p> + +<p>Within the castle dwelt the +good King Telwyn, lord of all +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span>that forest realm, wherein at +<span class="sidenote"><i>Good +King +Telwyn</i></span>whiles were clearings, with +orchards and vineyards, and +fields of all manner of grain +good for man and beast. And +with the King was Ellaline, the +Queen, beloved and beautiful, +and mother of Roseheart, whom +Telwyn her father, old and +wise, knew for the tenderest +thought of God in woman form.</p> + +<p>Fair as the dawn was Roseheart, +and about her a freshness +like that of babes. There +was in her hair the ruddiness +of tried gold, spun into a web +to catch the sun. Like the sky +in the East at twilight were her +eyes, and the dark brows thereof +as a flight of bird's wings. The +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span>mouth of her was crimson, and +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Beauty +of +Roseheart</i></span>fresh, and young, and curved +so tenderly withal, that none +looking upon her might fail to +love her with the love that leaps +into the heart for all young +things of fair seeming and +promise.</p> + +<p>Now upon a day came overseas +to Telwyn's realm one like a +young god invincible, Flame, +son of Lokus, lord of a far +island, wherein were fiery mountains +having their roots in the sea. +It was a land of wondrous beauty, +but they that dwelt therein, +rich though they were, for that +the land was exceeding fertile, +yielding in fullest measure +the fruits of the earth, yet +dwelt ever in danger betwixt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Isle of +Lokus</i></span>the mountains and the sea. +For there had been times when +living fire had rolled down the +mountains, and the earth had +been shaken mightily, and the +sea, in a huge wall of emerald, +had fallen upon the land and +overwhelmed it. And Lokus, +giving thought to these things, +had deep desire that the son of +his heart should escape these +dangers, and live out his years +in peace and happiness. And +for that the youth was ever of +the mind to fashion of the clay +of the earth whatsoever things +he saw, and might in nowise +be withheld from the cunning +of his hands, it came into the +mind of Lokus that it were +poor kindness to the child of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Lokus +Remembereth +his +Youth</i></span>his love to constrain him to +courts and statecraft. For +Lokus remembered his own +youth, and the struggle thereof, +when that his father had denied +him the life of his own +gift, which, darkling long, now +sought in the son of his body +and spirit its life to the glory +of God.</p> + +<p>Wherefore Lokus had called +his son to him, and had bidden +him to go straitly to the +friend of his own youth, the +wise King Telwyn, who would +teach him somewhat of life +and living in the great world. +But more than for the ways +and wit of men did Flame have +thought for all things beautiful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Gifts +of +Flame</i></span>in form. Right well he loved +to liven clay to semblance of +young maids and children, +mothers, and old men wise with +living. Ever into their faces +he put somewhat no other man +might see in them. At whiles, +shapes of beauty like to nought +that he had seen swam before +his vision, but swiftly they +faded, and he rubbed his eyes, +and looked as he were silly. +Wherefore men called him +Dreamer. Yet with all this had +he little thought for what the +Lord God had meant in the +making of the world, being +well content in this his youth +that by the instinct of his fingers, +and no thought withal, he +could please the good folk with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Flame +and the +Salt Sea</i></span>happy likeness of themselves. +Tall and straight was Flame, +with hair like fire seen through +smoke, and with skin like ripe +olives in the light of the going +sun. Firm his mouth, and his +brow both high and wide. In +his eyes were all the changing +lights and colours of the sea. +And it was as if the salt sea +were in his blood, so that when +he flamed in the wont of youth +and joy, it seemed like driftwood +burning, leaping, flowering, +in all the colours known +of men.</p> + +<p>And Flame, son of Lokus, +looking upon the Princess +Roseheart, drew one great +breath, and loved her with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Birth +of +Love</i></span>love of a man's heart. And +Roseheart, when she looked +into the eyes of Flame, and +his heart therein, knew him +for her lord, and loved him +wholly.</p> + +<p>Wherewith, Telwyn the King, +her father, seeing these things, +pondered the youth, and when +he had questioned him straitly, +was in nowise loath that the +thing should be. For Telwyn +was a wise man and discerning, +and found Flame a goodly +youth, and nought against him +for an husband to the Princess, +his daughter. Then was their +troth plighted, yet were they +over young to wed, and Telwyn +the King spake plain words to +<span class="pagenum"> + <a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9] + </a> +</span> + +Flame, +<span class="sidenote"><i>Their Troth Plighted</i></span> +that it were well he +should prove himself in some +wise ere he should claim for +bride the Princess Roseheart.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p> +<h2>II.</h2> + +<p class="dropimg"><img class="dropimg" src="images/dropcap_n.png" alt="N" />NOW +<span class="sidenote"><i>The Pool</i></span> +some way from the +castle, deep in the forest, +was set a Pool, so deep +and still that in its depths was +imaged all that bent above its +brim—the fluttering leaves, and +long-stemmed flowers, the flashing +flight of birds, and white-winged +argosies of cloud. And +so shadowed it was, and so +deep beyond depth, that he who +looked as far as he might could +see the stars of heaven mirrored +therein. +<span class="pagenum"> + <a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11] + </a> +</span></p> + +<p>Daylong +<span class="sidenote"><i>The Faces of Love</i></span> +did Flame feed the +hunger of his eyes on the beauty +of his beloved, as clad in kirtle +of forest-green, girt with gold, +she knelt at the edge of the +Pool, or laughing, chased the +butterflies, to woo them to her +lips and hair. At whiles deep +quiet came upon them as they +bent above the Pool, seeing +nought of all it held save only +the two faces of love that +looked therein.</p> + +<p>Upon a day at the hour of +golden noon, when all the land +swam in a haze of beauty, a +flickering brightness came and +passed, when Earthlove, sprite +invisible, touched with his +lips these twain, and with a lilt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Earthlove +Sprite +Invisible</i></span>of laughter rode away athwart +a sunbeam. Thereafter did +Flame kiss Roseheart long, upon +the mouth, and trembling, +gazed into her eyes that were +like still pools, wherein was +nought save his own image, +more beautiful than life. And +Flame's heart swelled within +him, lordly-wise, for that he +dwelt so in the eyes and the +heart of his beloved. And in +the eyes of Flame was nought +save Roseheart imaged, but +swaying as it were on a surging +wave wherethrough ran all the +changing lights and colours of +the sea.</p> + +<p>But when it was some while +since these things had befallen,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The Old +Gray +Woman</i></span>the dusk was come, all suddenly, +and there passed +strangely over the Pool a shivering, +and from it rose a mist that +hid it. The heart of Flame was +troubled, and lifting his eyes to +see what was toward, he saw +before him momently a figure +of sorrow, Wur, the Old Gray +Woman of Shadows, whose eyes +were as misty pools at twilight, +her hair as cobwebs matted, +and her garments as the wings +of the dusk. Yet upon her, nathless, +was a wistful beauty as of +moonlight, wherein were all +things wondrous.</p> + +<p>"Behold!" said Flame in wonder +to the maid Roseheart, but +she was in fear of somewhat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Of +Sorrow</i></span>that was as a thing known and +not known, and would not look, +but turned her face to his +breast. And Flame spoke unto +the Old Gray Woman of Shadows, +saying, "Gray One, I pray +thee, what wouldst thou?"</p> + +<p>She answered, and her voice +was as the winds of autumn, +through bare branches: "I am +Sorrow, and the Way of Destiny, +and the Shadow of Things +to be. The flower fadeth, and +the flesh falleth away as a garment, +but the seed and the soul +shall not perish, except the seed +fall on barren ground, and the +soul feed upon the body alone. +Ponder ye these things in your +hearts." And in a breath she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +was gone, leaving upon them a +chill as of the winter death.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote"><i>The Way +of +Destiny</i></span>Wherefore was Flame of grievous +mind for that he did not +understand these things. And +Roseheart clung to him weeping, +the while he gave her such +sweet comfort as he might. +Long he looked upon her in +wonder, at the spun gold of +her hair, the white shining +about her brows, her deep, +still eyes wherein was nought +but his image, her mouth fashioned +to joy and love, and her +slender body, curving to the +grace of womanhood. And +once again Earthlove, sprite +invisible, touched him, and +stung him, and his heart surged +<span class="pagenum"> + <a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16] + </a> +</span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Earthlove +Once +More</i></span>with love of the maid, and +his man's desire grew great +within him.</p> + +<p>She stirred, and looked into his +eyes, and shrank away, for +therein was that which affrighted +the peace of her soul. Looking, +she saw not only her fair +face, but her whole white body, +drifting in the sea-surge of his +eyes, wherein were all the +changing lights and colours of +the sea.</p> + +<p>And the soul of Roseheart was +faint with the far music of the +sea-surge that was the soul of +Flame. Yet being but a young +maid, she was in fear also, saying, +"Flame! Thou dishonourest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Sea-Surge +and +Fire-Bloom</i></span>me!" and freed herself, and +sped away fleetly.</p> + +<p>And upon the youth was shame, +but a new strength therewith, +so that he refrained him from +following her, and cast himself +upon the ground and wept, for +that he had affrighted the innocence +of Roseheart whom his +soul loved. And a great cry +for succor grew in him, and he +prayed full heartily to the Lord +God that He would show him +His will.</p> + +<p>Thereafter, feeling a presence, +he looked up, and his eyes were +blinded with a great light, and +he covered his eyes, and bowed +his head. Before him, in garments +more shining than the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Senta +the +Radiant +One</i></span>noonday sun, stood Senta, the +Radiant One. She spake, and +her voice had the beauty of the +sea in storm, when sudden sunlight, +flaming from the West, +gives rainbow colours to the +flying foam: "Hearken, Flame, +to the voice of Vision, which +the Lord God put into thy soul +when thou wast born. From +this day forth shalt thou rest +not, but follow thy dream +through all the earth and across +the seas. At the last shalt thou +find that thou seekest, for so is +it written, but thou shalt not +know the manner of thy finding, +nor may I tell thee. Sleep."</p> + +<p>And upon Flame came sleep as +the sleep of the sea at sunrise,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Vision</i></span>midmost of the summer, whenas +the glory of the sky is a +great magic in the sea, swinging +as a censer to and fro, that +the Lord God may be honoured +of the wonders He hath made. +Now the dream of Flame was +a dream of womanhood—of +women beautiful as dawn or +flowers, of women whose fair +seeming covered evil, women +good and women false, maids +and mothers and harlots, drifting, +thronging, clamouring, +praying, fawning, passing—until +at last came one clad in +shining garments, fashioned +full seemly, of white silk that +flowed and clung, revealing +gracious lines of her form who +walked stately-wise, with little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Woman +of +Radiance</i></span>children about her knees. And +Flame saw that her form was +radiance, and her eyes were +stars, but he might not discern +the fashion of her face for the +light thereof. And he was sore +troubled that the seeming of her +face was withholden from him, +for he knew in his soul that he +had somewhat to do with her.</p> + +<p>Came once more the voice of +Senta the Radiant One: "Flame, +Maker of Images, attend my +words. This woman shalt thou +seek throughout the world, forasmuch +as she is the dream of +dreams in thy soul. In the fullness +of thy manhood shalt thou +fashion her in pure marble, and +she shall be called Mother of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Mother +of +Men</i></span>Men. As for thee, thou shalt +be called the Giver of Dreams. +Awake."</p> + +<p>And Senta the Radiant One, +passing, gathered to her breast +with one swift motion the sprite +Earthlove, that had revealed to +her Flame and Roseheart in +their need to be taught the wisdom +of life which they knew +not.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> +<h2>III.</h2> + +<p class="dropimg"><span class="sidenote"><i>Senta +Taketh +Earthlove</i></span><img class="dropimg" src="images/dropcap_a.png" alt="A" />AND +when that Senta +had taken Earthlove +unto herself, and had +passed, the evening was come, +and there were stars a-many in +the depths of Pool. Therewith, +looking upon them, a great +peace came upon Flame, and +being weary, he laid himself +down that he might sleep and +be refreshed. And as he slept, +he dreamed of that woman +whose form was radiance, and +whose eyes were stars. And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Dreams +and +Awakening</i></span>his fingers stirred, and sought +to fashion out of the earth her +form of beauty; but all crumbled +under his touch, and he +might not.</p> + +<p>When the morning was come, +and upon all things lay new +freshness as of the world's +beginning, the youth Flame +arose and stripped him, and +plunged his body in the Pool +that sleep might be shaken from +him. Whereafter he got him +to the castle, and when that he +had stayed his hunger with +bread and new milk, asked that +he might have speech with his +troth-plight, the Princess Roseheart. +Then a serving-man led +him through many halls to a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Queen +and her +Women</i></span>great room wherein with their +women sat Roseheart and the +Queen her mother.</p> + +<p>And there, in seemly raiment +of soft colours, crimson, and +the brown of old wood, and +fresh green, the women sat +before their looms, and their +frames wherein rich broidery +grew under their white fingers. +And over all was sunlight, a +flickering whereof was made by +blown vines without the casements, +which were open to the +morn. There was the whisper +of silk, and much babble of +talk, after the fashion of women +working. Shuttles flew in the +looms, and white arms wondrous +fair in motion drew forth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Beauty +Added +unto +Beauty</i></span>long silken threads, being +wrought into fine stuffs, to the +end that beauty might be added +unto beauty.</p> + +<p>Queen Ellaline sat very still in +the midst of these her women. +Of delicate fashion she was, +and gentle. Her eyes were +widely set, and blue, and +mother-sweet, and her hair was +silvering with the caress of the +years. And she was sad in the +midst of sunshine, forasmuch +as she was troubled at the mien +of the maid, her daughter, who +sat with drooping head and +still hands. And in good sooth, +the heart of the Princess was +heavy within her, and no little +in fear. Nightlong had she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Roseheart +is +Troubled</i></span>seen the vision of Flame, in +whose eyes like the sea lay her +white body floating. Never +before since he had loved her +had she seen aught but her +soul's self therein, and she was +troubled.</p> + +<p>And now Flame, son of Lokus, +lord of that far isle of sea-surge +and fire-bloom, entered in +courtly wise this room of work +and idleness, of gayety and gossip, +and of love perplexed. In +reverent greeting did he kiss +the hand of Queen Ellaline; +then turning him to the Princess +Roseheart, he took both +of her white hands in his, seeking +to look into her eyes. And +soon, for her love of him she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Roseheart +is +Troubled</i></span>might not refrain, and bravely +gave them to his seeing. And +for that she was shamefast, in +the way of a maid, she looked +as one that saw not. But in +the eyes of Roseheart, he who +loved her saw as he was wont +only the image and seeming of +himself. And he was sorrowful +therewith, forasmuch as he +had thought mayhap to find +in the eyes of his love the twin +stars of the woman of his dream. +But the thing was not. And +remembering the Radiant One, +and the things that she had +said, he knew that, will-he, +nill-he, he must fare forth in +quest of that woman whose +form was radiance, and whose +eyes were stars—her from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Mother +of +Men</i></span>whom he should fashion his +Mother of Men.</p> + +<p>Then spake Ellaline, the Queen, +with quiet voice, saying, "What +wouldst thou, Flame, son of +Lokus? My daughter Roseheart +hath seeming of some +ill-hap with which thou hast +to do."</p> + +<p>Therewith did Flame drop the +hands of Roseheart his love, and +standing before the Queen her +mother, he spake on this wise: +"I know not what this thing +may be, but somewhat hath +been laid upon my will, so that +choice it hath none. Wherefore, +though thy daughter +Roseheart is as the blood of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Flame +Speaketh +Plainly</i></span>my heart to me, and fain would +I take her to wife straightway, +yet first must I go across the +sea, and through all the earth, +until I find a certain woman +whose form is radiance and +whose eyes are stars, that I may +fashion of her in pure marble +a Mother of Men that shall fulfill +the dream of my soul. Not +of my willing is this thing laid +upon me. But the Lord God +when I was born put into my +soul the vision, and into my +hands the cunning to fashion +the shape of my vision. Therefore +must I go, and abide the +will of the Lord God lest He +destroy me. Whether I shall +return I know not, for many +will be the perils of the way,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Pain +of +Roseheart</i></span>but in my heart meseems I +know that I shall return and +take to wife the maid Roseheart, +whom in all honour I +love and cherish."</p> + +<p>Hearing these words at the +last, Roseheart found somewhat +of courage beyond that +she had had, and looked into +the eyes of Flame. Therein was +no longer her own white body, +as she had feared to see, but +the noble form of a woman +whose white silken draperies +flowed and clung, whose form +was radiance, and whose eyes +were stars. With her were little +children. And Roseheart, gazing, +beheld the form of radiance, +and the faces of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>A White +Stillness</i></span>children, as somewhat known, +and not known, and in her +heart was a white stillness, and +no anger that Flame would +leave her to seek this woman, +but only the pain of longing, +and a meekness like +that of Mary, the Blessed +Mother.</p> + +<p>Flame, pitiful of the still sorrow +of Roseheart, clasped her to +his breast, and kissed her thrice +upon the forehead. But the +Lure of the Way of Life was +upon him, and turning strongly +from the maid and the Queen, +her mother, he said: "Good +greeting must I give you, from +the heart, and long farewell, +for that I must be about the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Flame, +His +Farewell</i></span>business the Lord God hath +set me. But ere I go, I would +see Telwyn, and speak with +him of that I have to do."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> +<h2>IV.</h2> + +<p class="dropimg"><span class="sidenote"><i>Flame, His Farewell</i></span><img class="dropimg" src="images/dropcap_a.png" alt="A" />ALL +silently they three +together sought Telwyn, +the King, but +now returned from the hunt, +and sitting at meat with his +men in the great banquet hall +of the castle.</p> + +<p>A mighty man of sorts was +Telwyn. Fierce in war, yet +had he also a great love of +peace, of beauty, of mirth and +joy, and of his food and wine. +Also had he great discernment +for the true things in the hearts<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>King +Telwyn</i></span>of men. Wherefore, seeing +sorrow and heaviness in the +faces of the three whom he +loved, who would have speech +with him, he bade his men-at-arms +and serving-men depart.</p> + +<p>When that he had listened all +quietly to the words of Flame, +there first came anger into his +heart, and a mist upon his sight, +for that Roseheart, his daughter, +who was as the remembered +joy of his youth, should +be in woe for the going from +her of Flame, Son of Lokus, +to follow the gleam of stars +in the eyes of the woman of +his dream. Yet was Telwyn +proud, and would constrain +no man to take unreadily his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +King +Pondereth</i></span>daughter Roseheart; and just, +for that he remembered what +he had said to the youth, that +it were well he should prove +himself somewhat ere he +should take the maid in marriage. +Therefore with a mighty +intake of the breath, and closing +the lids of his eyes, wherein +were lightnings, King Telwyn +spake on this wise, his voice +as the voice of far thunders: +"Flame, son of Lokus, thou +grievest the heart of Telwyn, +father of Roseheart, for that +thou puttest the maid in sorrow +for thy going. Yet am I a man, +and know the heart of a man +in youth. Fain would I give +thee of the wisdom I have +learned, but that may not be.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Telwyn +Admonisheth +Flame</i></span>In pain and struggle shalt thou +come to thine own wisdom, +which is for thee alone, so that +no man may give it thee, but +thou must win it. Yet since +thou hast won a maid to her +promise, it were meet that thou +shouldst go thy ways carefully, +bravely, and in good faith, that +thou mayest return in honour.</p> + +<p>I charge thee, see thou to these +things lest the vengeance of +Telwyn find thee out, though +thou wert in the uttermost parts +of the earth. Lend not thy +soul to wine to make a mock of, +nor to false women that they +may break it. Bear thou thyself +with modesty; give of thy +strength and wit to whomsoever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Telwyn +Admonisheth +Flame</i></span>hath need of them. Cheat +no man of his due in any wise, +remembering that so thou +wouldst cheat thyself of thy +birthright, which is to be one +with truth and right in so far as +thou canst attain thereunto. +Thou art the son of Lokus, +and art bound to carry his name +and blood in honour. I have +spoken. Farewell."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> +<h2>V.</h2> + +<p class="dropimg"><span class="sidenote"><i>Ellaline Distraught</i></span><img class="dropimg" src="images/dropcap_n.png" alt="N" />NOW +was Ellaline, the +Queen, fair distraught, +for that she understood +not her own mind in the matter. +And her heart was as water +with pity of the maid, and as a +sting her tongue, whenas she +thought of the going of Flame, +for that to her seeing he had +put an affront upon their house. +Yet might she not speak in +wrath, when Telwyn her husband +had spoken in quietness. +And there came upon her a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Ellaline +Beholdeth +Wur</i></span>trembling lest she speak, and +Telwyn's displeasure come +upon her.</p> + +<p>Wherefore, turning to flee +away, lest speaking she do +wrong, Ellaline the Queen saw +some way off in the hall a figure +of sorrow, Wur, the Old Gray +Woman of Shadows. And +being in eld, well she wot that +in the coming of Wur was sign +that the Lord God was minded +to send upon their house sorrow +and the winds of destiny, +and that not for her love and +grief might these things be +stayed in anywise. Wherewith +she kissed the maid her daughter +tenderly, as in farewell, and +fled away straitly, weeping.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Strength +of Flame</i></span>And Roseheart was white and +still.</p> + +<p>When Flame turned him to the +Princess Roseheart, fain would +she have had him kiss her upon +the mouth, but he would not, +seeking her brow instead, in all +tenderness. And piteous was +the face of the maid, that Flame +whom she loved denied her. +But the eyes of Telwyn marking +the thing, it seemed good +to him that Flame turned him +from the lips of his love. Well +did the King know the hearts +of men, and right heartily did +he hold in scorn those who had +not the wit to fear such things +as betray men unto weakness.</p> + +<p>Thereafter did Flame get him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The Going +of +Flame</i></span>thence right speedily, to take +ship for far countries.</p> + +<p>The maid Roseheart covered +her eyes that she might not see +the going of her beloved. And +she wept full sore, and when +Telwyn the King would have +comforted her, Wur, the Old +Gray Woman of Shadows, came +unto her pitifully, and took her +from the arms of her father, and +folded her mantle about her, +and led her away all gently. +And yielding his little maid +unto Wur, whom well he wot +of old, the King was shaken in +grief, that the thing must be +and nought might stay it.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> +<h2>VI.</h2> + +<p class="dropimg"><span class="sidenote"><i>Roseheart and Wur</i></span><img class="dropimg" src="images/dropcap_d.png" alt="D" />DAYLONG +and nightlong +the maid clung +to Wur and to none +other, and the Old Gray Woman +of Shadows, whose voice was +like unto the winds of Autumn, +made sad music of the days and +ways of men. Ever she spake, +telling tales of sorrow, whereunto +Roseheart listened, saying +in her heart, "There is no sorrow +like to mine, who am a +widow before I am wed."</p> + +<p>Yet there was, withal, in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Roseheart +Wakes +Weeping</i></span>tales of Wur, a gray beauty that +melted the heart of the maid, +even in despite of her own +grief, to a vague and terrible +longing to learn what lay at +the heart of life. Nightlong +did Wur watch over her, and +the maid dreamed in sorrow, +to wake weeping.</p> + +<p>So for a space was grief bitter +in the maid, and grievous +was the hurt of all things, for +that Flame whom she loved +had gone his ways from her. +Then on a day, for pity of the +grief wherewith she suffered, a +longing grew in her to look +upon the face of her sadness in +the Pool in the forest. Thither +she went, therefore, with Wur,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The Face of Grief</i></span> +the Old Gray Woman of +Shadows, and leaned over the +Pool in the wont of her old +fashion. And as with sore pity +of herself she looked into the +Pool, upon the face of grief +that was hers, she saw that in +her eyes, which aforetime had +held nought save the face of +Flame, was an image that blotted +out all else. Semblance it +had of an image of Wur, the +Old Gray Woman of Shadows, +whose hair was as cobwebs +matted, whose eyes were as +misty pools at twilight, and +whose garments were as the +wings of the dusk. Yet as the +maid looked more nearly, she +saw that the form had only the +seeming of Wur, and was in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +good sooth that of Roseheart +herself, stricken in grief to the +likeness of Wur.</p> + +<p>Arising in wonder she turned +her to look upon Wur, and in +the face of the Old Gray Woman +of Shadows she saw strangely +the semblance of herself, Roseheart. +And at the horror and +mystery of this thing which she +might not understand, the maid +shrieked with terror. And +when the Old Gray Woman +would have folded her in her +arms to quiet her, the maid +would not, and shrank away, +and prayed for help to the Lord +God that she might have +comfort. +<span class="pagenum"> + <a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46] + </a> +</span></p> + +<p> +<span class="sidenote"><i>There Came a Radiance</i></span> +And there came a radiance, +growing ever brighter, until +Wur, the Old Gray Woman of +Shadows, might not stay, but +fled away before that which was +more shining than the noonday +sun. And Roseheart was +ware of a presence she might +not see for the brightness.</p> + +<p>Then spake Senta, the Radiant +One, the Voice of Vision, unto +the maid Roseheart, full gently, +yet in the manner of one who +may not be gainsaid: "Roseheart, +beloved of Flame, who +shall be called Giver of Dreams, +lift up thy heart. Well hast +thou learned the lore of sorrow +that Wur hath taught thee, and +these things it is needful that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The Coming +of +Senta</i></span>thou shouldst know. But too +much hast thou made thyself +one with sorrow, to the end +that it hath grown dear to thee. +This thing may not be. Pity +that seeketh not itself makes +pure the heart of man, but pity +of thyself for thine own woe is +another matter, whereto thou +must look else will thy sorrow +destroy thee. Thou shalt arise, +therefore, and go unto thy +father Telwyn the King, and +thy mother, the Queen Ellaline. +Sore have been their hearts that +thou wert in grief. It should +be thy task rather, to bring +them joy who are stricken in +years.</p> + +<p>"But since joy is not made of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Vision +and +Dreams</i></span>nought, and since there is now +in thee sorrow alone, I say unto +thee, go thy ways among the +people of thy father the King, +and of thy grief make garments +of joy to cover the nakedness +of the poor withal. Take to +them that are sick the flowers +of thy kindness, that shall be +as the snowdrops blossoming +under the mantle of the winter +of thy grief. Look into the +eyes of the old and find patience, +and into the hearts of the children +and find hope. Tend +thou the bed of pain, and ease +the woe of the sons of men in +such measure as thou mayest. +Therewith shall all things befall +thee as the Lord God desireth. +Unto me, Senta, it is vouchsafed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +to give thee vision, and a +dream, even as I gave these +things unto Flame, thy beloved. +Sleep."</p> + +<p>And Roseheart laid her down +in the deep sleep as of a rosebud +in the sun at mid-day, +when life in a great tide flows +and greatens, to the end that +the rose may be full-blown. +And the dream of Roseheart +was on this wise: There was a +woman in shining garments, +fashioned full seemly of white +silk that flowed and clung, revealing +gracious lines of her +form who walked stately-wise, +with little children about her +knees. Her form was radiance, +and her eyes were stars. And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Starry-eyed</i></span>in the fashion of her seeming, +and in the faces of the children, +was somewhat as it were +a thing known and not known. +Then beheld Roseheart the +seeming of Flame, her beloved, +looking in joy and reverence +upon this woman whose form +was radiance, and whose eyes +were stars.</p> + +<p>And Senta the Radiant One +said unto Roseheart: "Behold +and see if this be not she whom +thou didst look upon at the +last in the eyes of Flame whom +thou lovest." And it was so, +and Roseheart marveled.</p> + +<p>Whereafter Senta bade her +awake, and she awoke and pondered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The Heart +of the +Maid</i></span>these things what they +might mean. And in the heart +of the maid there grew and +strengthened the desire and the +will to be as that woman of her +dream, whose beauty was as +music under the moon, and in +all reverence beloved of her +troth-plight, Flame. Thus are +women ever, in their deep need +to be in all ways that they may, +the desired of their lord.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> +<h2>VII.</h2> + +<p class="dropimg"><span class="sidenote"><i>Roseheart Gives Greeting</i></span><img class="dropimg" src="images/dropcap_w.png" alt="W" />WHEN +all things had +become clear to +Roseheart she arose +swiftly, and went unto Telwyn +the King, and the Queen her +mother. And upon her face was +a shining which was the shining +of her soul. And she said unto +them, "I give you greeting, my +father and my mother."</p> + +<p>And looking upon her they +were glad exceedingly, and exchanged +looks the one with +the other, for that the face of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The Going +of +Wur</i></span>Roseheart was no longer gray +with grief.</p> + +<p>First answered Ellaline, saying, +"Greeting to thee, my daughter. +Where now is Wur, that thou +hast the look of happiness?"</p> + +<p>Sudden wonder made wide the +eyes of Roseheart. "In good +sooth I know not," she answered. +"I have not seen her +at all any more since the coming +of the Shining One."</p> + +<p>Telwyn the King leaned him +forward in eagerness, asking, +"The Shining One? What +meanest thou?"</p> + +<p>Into the face of Roseheart came +the far, wondering look of children,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Roseheart, +Her +Task</i></span>but in her heart was a +song. "I know not," she made +answer, "unless it was an angel +of the Lord God, to shew me the +things that I must do, and that +which I must become." Herewith +the voice of the maid grew +wondrous sweet. "Of my garment +of sorrow must I make +raiment of joy to cover the +nakedness of the poor. To the +sick must I take the flowers of +kindness that are now as snowdrops +blossoming under the +mantle of the winter of grief. +I am to look into the eyes of +the old and find patience, and +into the hearts of children and +find hope. And I am to tend +the bed of pain, and ease the +suffering of the sons of men in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Telwyn +Perceiveth</i></span>such measure as I may, that all +things may befall me as the +Lord God desireth."</p> + +<p>Into the face of Telwyn there +came a tenderness like that of +women, and in his voice were +the tears a man may not suffer +in his eyes. "Great is the joy +in my heart," he said, "for that +thou art indeed become a +woman. And well I wot that +the Lord God is with thee, that +thou knowest these things of +wisdom."</p> + +<p>And Ellaline, looking into the +face of her daughter, drew her +to her heart, and spake on this +wise: "Deep grief has it been to +me that in thy pain I might not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Queen +Speaketh</i></span>help thee, but must leave thee to +the care of Wur, that woman of +sorrow. Nathless have I prayed +for thee without ceasing. +Blessed be the name of the +Lord God that He hath found +the Way for thee."</p> + +<p>Now on the morrow when Telwyn +the King went among his +people, to see that all was well, +and nought amiss that might +be set right, he put Roseheart +his daughter upon a white palfrey; +and himself upon a mighty +red horse, led her whithersoever +he went, that she might see all +things in the wisdom and tenderness +newly come to her. And +from his deep eyes like the caverns +of the sky, he watched her,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Telwyn +and +Roseheart</i></span>as pity grew in her, and knowledge, +and quick device of succor. +Daylong they rode, at the +noontide having bite and sup +with a woodcutter and his wife, +newly blessed with a fine man +child. And Roseheart, taking +the child in her arms, laughed +and wept that he was so small +and sweet, and for that he clung +to her, and turned to her breast. +And when the shadows grew +long, and they set their faces +toward the castle, the maid was +sore weary, but she knew it +not, for the pity in her, and the +thought of all awry in the world +that must be set right.</p> + +<p>And it befell that she dreamed +that night of a babe that lay<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Roseheart +Steadfast</i></span>upon her breast, and so sweet +it was, that she woke weeping +for very joy.</p> + +<p>Thereafter daily the maid went +forth with the King her father, +or at whiles with the Queen +her mother, whenas she was +wont to say unto Telwyn with +sweet gravity, "This is a matter +for women, of which thou +knowest nought."</p> + +<p>And the King smiled in his +beard at the woman-ways of her. +But hours there were when that +Roseheart was a-weary, and an-hungered +for Flame, her troth-plight +lord. Yet always, remembering +her dream, she +arose from grief, and with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Her Need +and +Desire</i></span>trouble of others, and what she +might do for them, filled the +emptiness of her heart. And +so great was her need and desire +to become as the woman +of the great dream, that slowly +as a slender moon fills with silver, +or a rosebud greatens to +fullness, did Roseheart the +maid grow in fashion and seeming +and good sooth toward the +very truth of her desire, to be +as that woman whose form was +radiance and whose eyes were +stars.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> +<h2>VIII.</h2> + +<p class="dropimg"><span class="sidenote"><i>Thrice Bloomed the Rose</i></span><img class="dropimg" src="images/dropcap_t.png" alt="T" />THRICE +the snowdrops +came and went, thrice +bloomed the rose; +thrice the harvest ripened to +the scythe, and winter flushed +to spring, and Flame, son of +Lokus, was not yet come from +overseas to claim his promise +of his troth-plight maiden.</p> + +<p>Long had he wandered from +land to land, seeking ever the +shape of his dream. Ever he +made forms of beauty with his +hands, whatsoever he saw, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Flame +Journeyeth</i></span>men marveled thereat, so cunning-true +they were, and skillful. +And everywhere was he +tempted with all manner of +lures to flesh and spirit that he +forsake his dream and take his +ease and pleasure like other +men, but he would not. And it +befell that on a day when he +was riding through the forest, +he came upon a carle that beat +a woman, his wife. And Flame +was wroth with the carle, and +fell upon him in fury, that so +he should misuse the strength +that God had given him. And +the anger of Flame was as the +strength of ten men, but when +he had the throat of the man in +his fingers, and would have +slain him, all suddenly his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>He +Groweth +in +Strength</i></span>anger was not. And in good +pity of the fellow that he was +yet in youth, he loosed him, +and admonished him, and went +his ways. And the strength of +the man that he had spared to +God's good life was added to +his own strength.</p> + +<p>And with his good strength of +the body was come strength of +his soul also. Wherefore, when +in his wanderings he came +upon a fair land wherein was +much kindness, and after a +while that land, which had an +aged king, was threatened by +savage men from wild forest +land beyond, he girded on his +sword and led the people in +war that they might put to confusion<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>He +Serveth +Need</i></span>the savage men who +sought to slay them, and take +their fat lands, and the homes +where they were born. And +when their enemies were driven +out, the old King embraced +with tears him who had risked +his life for them, and besought +him, saying, "Flame, son of +Lokus, what wouldst thou? +Whatsoever thou ask, that will +I give thee." And Flame, with +a look of far horizons in his +eyes that were like the sea, answered +him on this wise: "God +be gracious to thee for thy +kindness, but it is I who am in +thy debt, for that I have learned +the sweetness of giving myself +wholly, even unto death, if need +be, that innocent folk should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>He +Fareth +On</i></span>not suffer, nor evil prevail. I +am a selfish man, thinking +little enough of other folk, as I +go my way dreaming, and that +now I have seen somewhat +other than that is a mercy of +the Lord God."</p> + +<p>And though the people clamoured +that he should stay with +them, he went his way, and +came into a new land, and +dwelt there for a time. And +being comely, with grace and +courtliness in his mien, and the +beauty of the sea in his eyes, +when he looked eagerly into +the faces of women, seeking +his dream, many were sick with +love of him. And they made +devices that he should tarry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Of +Black +Words</i></span>with them, some in innocence +and good faith, as a maid may, +and some fawning, and whispering +black words to the youth +and heat of his blood.</p> + +<p>Of these last there came betimes +a witch-woman, who discerning +with cunning the eyes +of Flame that they were like +the sea, made herself as a moon-woman, +that he should follow +her. And Flame, looking upon +her, whose face was as silver, +felt somewhat surge within him +answering her desire. And the +woman glided before him until +they were come into the +desert.</p> + +<p>And when the moon-woman +moved not so swiftly, but lingered,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Moon-Woman</i></span>and Flame would have +touched her, she laughed, and +would and would not, and +reaching for her, he stumbled, +and fell upon the ground, yet +held her fast. And the night +was black upon them.</p> + +<p>When the early morning was +come, Flame turned him from +the moon-woman exulting that +now at last he had drunk of the +cup, desire whereof had tormented +him. But as he turned, +some way off in brightness +stood Senta the Radiant One. +And she drew near, and spake +not, but shed her light, without +pity, upon the moon-woman. +And Flame saw that she was +not beautiful, but a hag, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Face of +Leprosy</i></span>her face of silver the face of +leprosy, white and horrible, and +as old as the world. And he +looked about him, and saw in +the desert the bones of men. +Then did he cry out in fear, "I +am in the place of the dead!"</p> + +<p>And he rose up swiftly and fled +away till he was come to the +edge of the desert, and thence +into a gentle land, of murmuring +streams, and trees on the +which was fruit of divers kinds, +and good to the taste. And +after that Flame had drunk of +the waters, and eaten of the +fruit, the Lord God was pitiful +of his shame and weariness, +and he slept.</p> + +<p>Sleeping, once more he dreamed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Cometh +the +Dream</i></span>of that woman of radiance, +starry-eyed. But whereas aforetime +he might not see the fashion +of her face, it was now +revealed to him in the seeming +of his troth-plight maiden, glorified. +Now was the rose full +blown, the child become a +woman, in strength, and tenderness, +and wisdom, and her +beauty was as music under the +moon. Then unto him in his +dream spake the Voice of Vision +on this wise: "Now that +thou hast proved thyself in +turning thee from the place of +the dead, shalt thou have fullness +of life, withal. Thou hast +looked upon death in battle, +and feared not, for that thou +sawest therein that life which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The Voice +of +Vision</i></span>is greater than thine own life; +and thou hast looked upon that +life which is sin, and hast seen +therein the death of the spirit. +Wherefore arise, and go +straightway to claim the +maiden Roseheart for thy wife, +that the true life of body and +spirit may be fulfilled unto +thee. And whatsoever thou +fashionest with thy hands, that +shalt thou fashion also with thy +heart and soul, in the light of +the vision the Lord God hath +given thee. Arise."</p> + +<p>With a great cry of joy he +awoke, and strength was fulfilled +to him as it had been a +fountain, ever leaping and ever +renewed. Wherewith straightway<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Strength +Fulfilled</i></span>he arose, and girt up his +mantle for the journey, that +swift might be the way of his +going.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> +<h2>IX.</h2> + +<p class="dropimg"><span class="sidenote"><i>Flame Returneth</i></span><img class="dropimg" src="images/dropcap_u.png" alt="U" />UNTO +the days of three +moons he journeyed, +over land and sea, and +at last he was come into the +country of Telwyn, wherein +were peace, and good harvest, +and labour for all that would. +And while he was yet some +way off, upon a hill, he saw +that the people were gathered +together in a great meadow, +and there rose to him on the +wind a great song of joy that +they were singing. +<span class="pagenum"> + <a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72] + </a> +</span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The People at Games</i></span> +And drawing near he saw +that some of the people were +playing at games in the meadow, +quoits and bowls, and other +games of skill of divers kinds, +with trials of strength and +daring for the eager blood of +youth. And there were horses +a-many, and on them men laughing +and jesting, and there were +women and children, some hundreds, +clad in fluttering garments +of all the colours of joy.</p> + +<p>In the midst of the throng +there sat upon a dais a woman +in shining raiment of cloth +of silver, broidered with roses +that had caught their colour +from the rose tint of her face. +And her hair of spun gold was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The Day +of +Joy</i></span>bound with a silver fillet, fashioned +in all delicacy, and colored +to the semblance of the +roses that were in the pattern +thereof, with leaves cunningly +wrought of green gold. Standing +beside her was a young +page clad in crimson who carried +a tray whereon were ribbands +of bright colours, the +which the Princess Roseheart, +for she it was in the shining raiment, +did upon those who were +victors in the games and contests.</p> + +<p>Great was the pride of the +people that the Princess had +come amongst them in their +merrymaking. Long had she +been with them in sorrow and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Morning +of +Life</i></span>service, but not before this day +in the joy of the morning of +life, and they deemed it of good +augury for her happiness.</p> + +<p>Now when Flame, yet some +way off, saw that the woman in +shining raiment was the beloved +of his soul, Roseheart, +his heart leapt within him, and +there was upon his limbs the +speed of light. But betimes it +came to him that travel was +upon his garments, and that it +were not fit he should dishonour +his troth-plight maiden +by coming before her eyes in +aught unworthy. Wherefore he +turned him aside from the +meadow, and made such haste<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Cometh +Flame</i></span>as he might toward the castle +midmost of the forest.</p> + +<p>When he was come thither, he +found therein only a few old +serving men and women, for +that all others were making +holiday in the meadow, the +King, Telwyn, and the Queen +Ellaline, as well as the humblest +folk in the castle.</p> + +<p>And Flame got him right +speedily to the great room that +had been for his sleeping aforetime. +There, as of old, was a +great chest wherein were the +garments he had brought with +him from his home, the isle of +sea-surge and fire-bloom. +Therefrom he chose raiment of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Sea-Surge +and +Fire-Bloom</i></span>rich silk wherein leapt and +flickered all colours as of driftwood +burning—copper, and +blue, and green, and rose, and +violet—with a broidered cloak +of velvet like clear flame. And +he did on a sword the hilt +whereof was wrought in divers +hues of pure gold.</p> + +<p>And when all was done, and +in the wont of youth he looked +upon his likeness in a mirror +of silver that was there, he +laughed in his heart for that he +was young and comely, and for +that he was now returned to +the home of his heart.</p> + +<p>Then with all speed he betook +him thence to the great meadow.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Silken +Tent</i></span>And when he was come +thither, he saw that a little way +off at the edge of the forest was +a silken tent that was like a +purple iris, so beautiful it was, +and that thereunder were King +Telwyn and Queen Ellaline, +looking upon the pleasure of +their people.</p> + +<p>And Flame saw that whereas +the Princess Roseheart had +been in the midst of the crowd +when first he had seen her, she +was now with her father and +mother, the King and Queen, +under the canopy, that had +been set in a mossy glade +flecked with sunlight and +shadow, and glad with delicate +flowers. The maid stood at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Of +Queen +Ellaline</i></span>side of the Queen her mother +talking shiningly of all that had +befallen that morning. And +the Queen Ellaline, most fair +indeed to look upon, in thin +silk of silver-grey, wherethrough +showed under-silks of blue and +violet, smiled happily at the +life and eagerness of the maid +her daughter.</p> + +<p>And when the people saw that +Flame, the son of Lokus, was +come once more, from overseas, +to claim his troth-plight, +the Princess Roseheart, they +pressed upon him clamouring, +glad with great joy that the +youth was grown a man, in +full stature of strength and +bravery. And Flame returned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Of +Greetings</i></span>their greetings in all courtesy +and kindness, but ever his eyes +turned whither his heart drave, +toward the tent like an iris, +whereunder, like one dreaming, +stood the woman of his heart +and his dream, now motionless, +with her soul in her eyes.</p> + +<p>And when King Telwyn made +sure that the figure of flickering +beauty that burned its way +through the crowd of the people +was Flame, son of Lokus, and +none other, his heart was as a +harp, swept with chords of joy +and questioning, of fear, and a +nameless pain that now mayhap +he must give his little maid, +that was as the remembered +joy of his youth, to the clasp<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>A Silver +Trumpet +Singing</i></span>of a man, in whom should be +her life thenceforward. But +the heart of Queen Ellaline was +as a silver trumpet singing, that +the maid her daughter was now +to live the life of a woman, +giving her life to a man, that +it should be greatened unto her, +and to the world.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> +<h2>X.</h2> + +<p class="dropimg"><span class="sidenote"><i>The Humility of Pride</i></span><img class="dropimg" src="images/dropcap_n.png" alt="N" />NOW +when Flame was +come before the King +and Queen and the +Princess Roseheart, he was +filled with the humility of those +who have great pride, insomuch +that he fell upon his knees before +them to beg that which +aforetime he had asked as in the +ignorance of a child. But ere +he could speak, King Telwyn +put forth his hand and raised +him, saying, "Flame, son of +Lokus, thou art a thousand +times welcome. Hearty greeting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Return +In Honour</i></span>we give thee, in good faith +that thou hast returned in +honour."</p> + +<p>Then spake Flame on this wise: +"Greeting from the heart I give +thee. Meseems my heart will +burst with the fullness of my +joy that I am come once more +to the home of my love, to look +upon her beauty, and to give +into her keeping all that I have, +and all that I am, for she is the +soul of my soul."</p> + +<p>Then, bethinking himself that +he must remember in courtesy +to put before his own desires +that which was due to others, +he made obeisance to the +Queen, Ellaline, who greeted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Eagerness +of Flame</i></span>him with kindness, asking him +whether he had had food and +drink since his journey.</p> + +<p>"Nay," he said, "how should +that have been, when I was so +much more an-hungered to see +quickly the face of my beloved?" +And he turned him to +his love, Roseheart, standing +very still, with her soul in her +eyes.</p> + +<p>With quick woman-wit then +did Queen Ellaline motion the +serving men that they should +draw the curtains of the tent, +themselves standing without. +And the King and Queen withdrew +also, that the lovers might +be alone. Whereupon Roseheart,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Woman +of +Stars</i></span>her silver cloak falling +from her, stood forth to Flame +as that woman whose form was +radiance, and whose eyes were +stars, she that was clad in shining +raiment, fashioned full +seemly of white silk that flowed +and clung, revealing gracious +lines of her form, who walked +stately-wise, with little children +about her knees.</p> + +<p>And upon the sight of Flame +was a mist, and when it had +passed and he looked again, +the little children were not as +they were living, but like +wraiths of divers colours, making +as it were a rainbow in the +midst whereof stood one still a +maid. And Flame fell upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Flame +Falleth +Upon His +Knees</i></span>his knees, and called upon her +name. And she set her two +hands upon his head, and lifting +it gently, looked down into +his soul. And when they had +come to understanding on this +wise, she gave her hands into +his, and lifted him up. And +he drew her to his heart, and +kissed her on the mouth, +whereat she was all a woman, +and clung to him, saying with +little broken cries, "It hath +been so lonely without thee—I +love thee so!"</p> + +<p>Remembering the pain and +struggle of his quest, Flame +cried out, "Wherefore did I go +from thee?" Yet even as he +spake, right well he knew how<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Finding</i></span>it had been needful that all +things should have befallen +them as they had done.</p> + +<p>Then did the face of Roseheart +grow wistful-sweet, and +she asked, "The woman of thy +dream—didst thou find her?" +And Flame answered, "Aye, I +have found her. Dost thou not +know? Thou thyself art that +radiant woman, starry-eyed. I +know not what hath befallen +thee, save that the starry +heavens, that look upon all +things, have made thine eyes +their dwelling-place."</p> + +<p>Whereupon Roseheart, his beloved, +chided him on this wise, +with a laughter that was of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Beyond +Self</i></span>soul, and naught unkind in it: +"My happiness is so deep, I +needs must laugh at thee. Meseems +the truth is that aforetime +thou sawest only thyself +in mine eyes, and that now thou +hast learned to look beyond +thyself. And thus it hath been +with me also. Once I saw not +anything but myself in thine +eyes, but now therein I see ships +and far countries, and the forms +of beauty that thou hast +dreamed, and those which thou +shalt create in the years to come. +When first I saw in thine eyes +that woman of thy dream, of +whom thou hadst spoken, sorrow +and humility were heavy +upon me, for that I understood +not why there should be aught<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Remembered +Vision</i></span>in thine eyes but thy love, Roseheart. +But there came a time—" +She was silent for a moment +that she might hear the music +of the remembered vision. +"Have I grown like her—in +good sooth?" she whispered.</p> + +<p>"Thou art she," answered +Flame, "the soul of my soul."</p> + +<p>"And what of thee?" whispered +Roseheart. "What hast thou +learned of life in thy far +countries?"</p> + +<p>Whereupon he answered, as +the Voice of Vision had told +him, "I have looked upon +death for right's sake, and seen +therein the life greater than +mine own life; and I have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Feast +is +Spread</i></span>looked upon the life which is +sin and have seen therein the +death of the spirit. I have +much to tell thee, for that there +must be nought but truth +between us."</p> + +<p>Then did King Telwyn himself +draw the curtains of the +tent and look within, smiling. +"Flame, son of Lokus, the +feast is spread for thee, though +well I wot thou knowest not if +thou art hungry. But time and +enough will there be for talk +with thy speech-friend and +troth-plight maiden, when thou +hast eaten thy meat, and refreshed +thee from thy journey. +Wherefore come now, the both +of you, and shew yourselves +<span class="pagenum"> + <a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90] + </a> +</span> +unto the people, that all may +rejoice."</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote"><i>Feasting and Laughter</i></span> +Thereupon did Flame, son of +Lokus, lead forth his troth-plight +maiden Roseheart, to a +great table that had been spread +under the trees, with a silken +cloth, and great dishes of silver +and gold, whereon were roast +flesh, and new bread, and green +things steaming and savoury, +and fruits of divers sorts, good +to the taste and beautiful. And +there were flagons of wine, +crimson, and of the colour of +corn, and of brown like the +leaves of autumn.</p> + +<p>Then was there feasting and +laughter, and Flame, son of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Flame +Speaketh +Modestly</i></span>Lokus, told many tales of far +countries—of strange customs, +and cunning of husbandry and +handicraft; of wars and the +courts of Kings; of mightily +mountains, of great seas and +the storms thereof, wherein he +himself had laboured mightily +with the men of the ship that +they should not perish all.</p> + +<p>And for that all he spake on +these matters was shrewd and +well taken, and modest withal, +King Telwyn, listening, marked +with gladness the manhood +that had come to this youth of +the isle of sea-surge and fire-bloom. +And he was right well +pleased, also, that the troth-plight +of his daughter was returned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Queen +Taketh +Note</i></span>with clear eyes and +noble bearing, and courtesy and +readiness for all that made +speech with him.</p> + +<p>And Queen Ellaline, in the wont +of elder women, had eyes to the +way of Flame with his wine, +the which he took gladly, as +becomes a man, but not overmuch; +and she was content. +Roseheart, sitting beside her +mother, the Queen, had thought +for none but her troth-plight +lord whom she loved; yet marked +with pride his thought and +courtesy for all that sat at meat +with them. There was that in +her which remembered with joy +and tenderness how that he had +thought aforetime only of themselves<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Roseheart Hath Pride</i></span> +and their love; but now +was she proud that her lord was +become a man among men, for +well she knew that with all +he said and did in any wise, +there ran always the music of +his joy in her, and the love of +his soul for hers.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> +<h2>XI.</h2> + +<p class="dropimg"><span class="sidenote"><i>The Shadows Grow Long</i></span><img class="dropimg" src="images/dropcap_n.png" alt="N" />NOW +when they had +eaten and drunk their +fill, and had had much +talk withal, the shadows had +grown long, and bird-song rippled +the air in the wont of +sundown. Wherefore King +Telwyn bethought him how it +would be pleasant that the four +of them, the Queen, the Princess +Roseheart, and her troth-plight +lord, Flame, should walk in the +forest for a space, ere yet they +returned to the castle.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Queen +Ellaline +Speaketh</i></span>But Queen Ellaline said to him, +"Nay, my lord, shall not thou +and I return to the castle alone? +Well I wot these twain have +much to say, each to the other. +Were it not well that they should +walk apart in the forest in the +cool of the evening, if that be +their wish?"</p> + +<p>And King Telwyn smiled thereat, +saying, "Well, well! Certain +it is that I am but a stupid man, +and thy woman's wit in the +right of it." And therewith +he bade the young pair go +apart as they wished for the +space of an hour or two.</p> + +<p>But ere they went their ways, +Flame raised to his lips the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Flame +Showeth +Gratitude</i></span>hand of the Queen, and kissed +it, forasmuch as he was grateful +to her exceedingly that she +had had thought and remembrance +of the need of young +lovers to be alone together.</p> + +<p>Whereafter, the King and the +Queen having turned their +steps to the castle, Flame and +the Princess Roseheart wandered +in sweet content in the path +that led to the Pool, where aforetime +they had found their love +and their destiny.</p> + +<p>And when they were come +thither, they found there, fluttering +like butterflies in a shaft +of sunlight that came under the +trees and among the stems<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Roseheart +Radiant</i></span>thereof, children that sported +about the Pool. And these, +forsaking their play, clamoured +about the Princess Roseheart, +in sweet rivalry of her love and +her touch. And forasmuch as +his beloved stood now in the +shaft of sunlight, radiant, starry-eyed, +with little children about +her knees, Flame, the Giver of +Dreams, worshiped her in his +soul, and stooped him to the +earth that he might seize the +clay thereof, and mixing it with +water from the Pool, fashion +the likeness of her. But though +mightily he strove, the cunning +of his hands was withholden +from him, and he might not.</p> + +<p>Then the children, seeing it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Dusk +Cometh</i></span>late, flitted away to their homes, +and the sunlight grew faint and +fainter, until the dusk was come, +all suddenly. And as the twain +stood a little apart, each from +the other, there passed between +them, as she had been a night-moth, +Wur, the Old Gray +Woman of Shadows, whose +eyes were as misty pools at twilight, +her hair like cobwebs +matted, and her garments as +the wings of the dusk. And +momently there was upon them +a chill as of the winter-death.</p> + +<p>Then did Flame know in his +heart that he must tell his white-souled +love, Roseheart, of the +moon-woman in the desert. +And his heart shook at thought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Hand +in +Hand</i></span>of her grief and trouble thereat. +But being a true man, and +strong for the more part, he +knew that it were an ill thing +to set forward the time of saying +that which must be said. +Therefore he took his love by +the hand, and led her to a +mossy bank, whereupon they +sat them down, hand in hand. +After a little he said: "There +is a thing that I must tell thee, +but because thou art a maid +and innocent, I know not if +thou wilt understand."</p> + +<p>And seeing his trouble she answered +him gently: "Meseems +thou couldst not do anything +I would not understand."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Flame +Confesseth</i></span>Drawing her close within the +shelter of his arms he said, +"Thou believest that I love thee +as my heart's blood?"</p> + +<p>"Verily," she made answer, +"that must I needs believe, else +could I not wed thee." Then +because he was silent a space, +as one thinking, she said, +"What is it that thou wouldst +say to me?"</p> + +<p>With quick words then he spake +on this wise: "Know then that +there was a woman—a witch +that made herself as a woman +of moonlight, beautiful exceedingly, +that I should follow her. +And forasmuch as mine eyes +and my blood are as the sea, I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote">Speech +Faileth +Him</span>might not refrain, for my weakness, +but followed her as the +sea the moon. And we came +into the desert, and there remained +for a space." Then did +the speech of Flame fail him, +for that he knew not how to say +that which must be said.</p> + +<p>And Roseheart looked upon +him shrinkingly, and put away +his arms, and rose, and stood +away from him. And in her +eyes that had held stars, there +came a mist, as when the +heavens grow dull with that +which is not storm, but more +like to sickness. "And thou—" +she whispered, "didst thou give +thyself to this woman?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Life +Dishonoured</i></span>"Yea, but in the way of the +flesh only," he answered, shamefast. +"I know not if a maid +can understand."</p> + +<p>Then was Roseheart silent a +space, whereafter she said slowly, +"Meseems that therein lay +the sin of what thou didst. +Hadst thou given thyself body +and soul, thy sin against me +had been greater, but methinks +then would it have been less +against the Lord God, whose +gift of life thou hast +dishonoured."</p> + +<p>Then spake Flame eagerly, +"But I told thee she was a witch-woman. +Thou rememberest the +Radiant One?" +<span class="pagenum"> + <a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103] + </a></span> +</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote"><i>The +Radiant +One</i></span>"Aye." The Princess Roseheart +was grave and sorrowful. +"When that I turned me away +from the moon-woman I saw +the Radiant One, and she came +and said naught, but shed her +light upon the woman, and I +saw that she was not beautiful, +like the moon, but a hag, and +leprous. Wherefore, looking +about me I saw the bones of +the dead. And I rose and fled +away from that place."</p> + +<p>"Thou didst well."</p> + +<p>Then was Flame filled with terror +that though she spake in all +gentleness, his love Roseheart +was become as a stranger to +him. Straightway he went to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Flame +Shamefast</i></span>her, saying, "Canst thou not +forgive?"</p> + +<p>"I know not," she made answer, +with the weariness of one in +mortal pain.</p> + +<p>Then he sought to put his +arms about her, and draw her +to him, but she looked at him +as one in surprise, and therewith +he feared to touch her. +And he fell upon his knees, +and buried his face, shamefast, +in the hem of her garment, and +wept that he had so wounded +her whom his soul loved. With +all gentleness she put him away +from her, and went apart. And +her eyes were dry, but her +heart bled, so that she was as +one sick unto death.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="sidenote"><i>Thoughts +of +Torment</i></span>Her thoughts pricked her with +torment, that her lord whom +she had worshipped kneeling, +as is the wont of women, was +proven but a weak creature on +whom she might not lean for +strength, for that he had it not. +And it was bitter to her that he +whom she had thought to be a +man such as the Lord God had +meant in the making of the +world, had been but as a child, +or blind, that he had been deceived +by the moon-woman. +Wherefore her heart, that had +shrined a god, was now empty.</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p> +<h2>XII.</h2> + +<p class="dropimg"><span class="sidenote"><i>The Need of Flame</i></span><img class="dropimg" src="images/dropcap_f.png" alt="F" />FOR +some while did +Flame lie upon the +ground as one dead, +but presently his manhood +arose and stood before the +Princess Roseheart, saying, +"Then wilt thou send me from +thee?"</p> + +<p>And looking upon his manhood, +that would face what +must come to it, she saw therewith +somewhat that wrung her +heart, the look of a little child, +with wistful eyes, and mouth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>A New +Sweetness</i></span>that quivered. And she saw that +his need of her was greater than +it had been aforetime, as of a +child for his mother. Wherewith +into her heart that had +been empty of all things whenas +the god might dwell there +no longer, there came a new +sweetness it could scarce hold, +so great was the flood thereof. +And through her body and her +soul the sweetness surged, so +that there remained no bitterness +at all, but a great gladness, +as of the singing of many waters +in spring. In her face was the +look as of a young mother looking +upon her first man-child +that she hath borne in pain +with thanksgiving. +<span class="pagenum"> + <a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108] + </a> +</span></p> + +<p><span class="sidenote"><i>Roseheart +Forgiveth</i></span>Flame, looking upon the glory +that was her face, fell at her +feet, crying, "Thou wilt forgive?"</p> + +<p>And she lifted him up, and +drew his head to her breast, +saying the while little words of +love and comforting. Whereafter, +he stood straight before +her, and they looked each into +the other's eyes as they had +been spirits out of the flesh.</p> + +<p>And there came a shining +round about them, that was +brighter than the noonday sun, +for that Senta, the Radiant One, +was come and stood near them. +And Flame saw that in the face +of his love was somewhat that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>Somewhat +of New +Beauty</i></span>had not been there before, for +the beauty whereof his soul +sang. As one in a dream he +stooped him to the earth once +more to take of the clay thereof +and fashion her his Mother +of Men.</p> + +<p>But ere he might do the thing +he would, Senta the Radiant +One drew near, and spake unto +them, and her voice was as the +music of a mighty pine-wood +raising to heaven a paean of +triumph in a great wind of +spring, with the voices of children +therethrough, like little +singing streams. And the +words of Senta were these: "Joy +to you that ye have learned +somewhat whereof life and love<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote"><i>The +Meaning +of Love</i></span>are made! Roseheart, beloved +of Flame, son of Lokus, now +art thou become in very truth +a Mother of Men in thy +woman's soul, for that thou +hast learned the meaning of +love, which is to minister, to +suffer, to understand, and to +forgive. And thou too, Flame, +hast learned of it, insomuch +that love constrained thee in the +pride of thy manhood to become +as a little child that thou +mightest be forgiven. But stay +thy hand, even yet, until thou +hast taken the maid to wife, and +made her in good sooth a +mother of men according to +the flesh. Then only shalt thou +be given fullness of vision, +and shalt fashion her in pure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +marble to be as a dream forever +in the hearts of men."</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote"><i>The Sign +and +Symbol</i></span>With the passing of Senta, the +Radiant One, was full evening +come. And Flame, Fashioner +and Giver of Dreams, led the +Princess Roseheart, his love +and troth-plight maiden, to the +brink of the Pool, in wonder +beyond speech, and a silence +as of music. For the Pool held +deep within deep; and far beyond +their two faces of love, +they beheld as in the night blue +of heaven, the stars that the +Lord God had set therein to +be a sign and symbol unto men +of the things beyond the flesh.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + <div class="figcenter"> + <img id="endpage" border="0" src="images/ep.png" width="70%" alt="End Page" /> + </div> +<hr class="chapter" /> + + <div class="trnote"> + <p class="cen">Transcriber's Note:</p> + <p>Title page spelling of "auther" was corrected to "author."</p> + <p>Page 16 "s e -surge" was corrected to "sea-surge."</p> + <p>Page 29 "He He" was corrected to "He."</p> + <p>Archaic spellings, syntax and other anomalies remain as in original.</p> + </div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Stars in the Pool, by Edna Kingsley Wallace + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STARS IN THE POOL *** + +***** This file should be named 35654-h.htm or 35654-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/6/5/35654/ + +Produced by Sigal Alon, Matthew Wheaton, Fox in the Stars +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Stars in the Pool + A Prose Poem for Lovers + +Author: Edna Kingsley Wallace + +Release Date: March 22, 2011 [EBook #35654] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STARS IN THE POOL *** + + + + +Produced by Sigal Alon, Matthew Wheaton, Fox in the Stars +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + + +THE STARS IN THE POOL + + + + +THE + +STARS IN + +THE POOL + +_A Prose Poem for Lovers_ + +BY + +EDNA KINGSLEY WALLACE + +_Author of "Feelings and Things," "Wonderings and Other Things"_ + +[Decoration] + +NEW YORK + +E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY + +681 FIFTH AVENUE + + +_Copyright 1920_ + +_By E. P. DUTTON & CO._ + +_All Rights Reserved_ + + +_Printed in the United States of America_ + + + + +THE STARS IN THE POOL + + + + +_The Stars in the Pool_ + + + + +I. + + +[Sidenote: _The Castle_] + +Midmost of a forest of weaving lights and shadows, of dreaming winds, +and fragrance wandering, there stood a great white castle, fair, and +gleaming in the sun. Massive it was, yet high as well, so that it caught +all colours of the dawn and sunset, like unto some peak of snow, remote +from men. + +[Sidenote: _Good King Telwyn_] + +Within the castle dwelt the good King Telwyn, lord of all that forest +realm, wherein at whiles were clearings, with orchards and vineyards, +and fields of all manner of grain good for man and beast. And with the +King was Ellaline, the Queen, beloved and beautiful, and mother of +Roseheart, whom Telwyn her father, old and wise, knew for the tenderest +thought of God in woman form. + +[Sidenote: _The Beauty of Roseheart_] + +Fair as the dawn was Roseheart, and about her a freshness like that of +babes. There was in her hair the ruddiness of tried gold, spun into a +web to catch the sun. Like the sky in the East at twilight were her +eyes, and the dark brows thereof as a flight of bird's wings. The mouth +of her was crimson, and fresh, and young, and curved so tenderly +withal, that none looking upon her might fail to love her with the love +that leaps into the heart for all young things of fair seeming and +promise. + +[Sidenote: _The Isle of Lokus_] + +[Sidenote: _Lokus Remembereth his Youth_] + +Now upon a day came overseas to Telwyn's realm one like a young god +invincible, Flame, son of Lokus, lord of a far island, wherein were +fiery mountains having their roots in the sea. It was a land of wondrous +beauty, but they that dwelt therein, rich though they were, for that the +land was exceeding fertile, yielding in fullest measure the fruits of +the earth, yet dwelt ever in danger betwixt the mountains and the sea. +For there had been times when living fire had rolled down the mountains, +and the earth had been shaken mightily, and the sea, in a huge wall of +emerald, had fallen upon the land and overwhelmed it. And Lokus, giving +thought to these things, had deep desire that the son of his heart +should escape these dangers, and live out his years in peace and +happiness. And for that the youth was ever of the mind to fashion of the +clay of the earth whatsoever things he saw, and might in nowise be +withheld from the cunning of his hands, it came into the mind of Lokus +that it were poor kindness to the child of his love to constrain him to +courts and statecraft. For Lokus remembered his own youth, and the +struggle thereof, when that his father had denied him the life of his +own gift, which, darkling long, now sought in the son of his body and +spirit its life to the glory of God. + +[Sidenote: _The Gifts of Flame_] + +[Sidenote: _Flame and the Salt Sea_] + +Wherefore Lokus had called his son to him, and had bidden him to go +straitly to the friend of his own youth, the wise King Telwyn, who would +teach him somewhat of life and living in the great world. But more than +for the ways and wit of men did Flame have thought for all things +beautiful in form. Right well he loved to liven clay to semblance of +young maids and children, mothers, and old men wise with living. Ever +into their faces he put somewhat no other man might see in them. At +whiles, shapes of beauty like to nought that he had seen swam before his +vision, but swiftly they faded, and he rubbed his eyes, and looked as he +were silly. Wherefore men called him Dreamer. Yet with all this had he +little thought for what the Lord God had meant in the making of the +world, being well content in this his youth that by the instinct of his +fingers, and no thought withal, he could please the good folk with +happy likeness of themselves. Tall and straight was Flame, with hair +like fire seen through smoke, and with skin like ripe olives in the +light of the going sun. Firm his mouth, and his brow both high and wide. +In his eyes were all the changing lights and colours of the sea. And it +was as if the salt sea were in his blood, so that when he flamed in the +wont of youth and joy, it seemed like driftwood burning, leaping, +flowering, in all the colours known of men. + +[Sidenote: _The Birth of Love_] + +And Flame, son of Lokus, looking upon the Princess Roseheart, drew one +great breath, and loved her with the love of a man's heart. And +Roseheart, when she looked into the eyes of Flame, and his heart +therein, knew him for her lord, and loved him wholly. + +[Sidenote: _Their Troth Plighted_] + +Wherewith, Telwyn the King, her father, seeing these things, pondered +the youth, and when he had questioned him straitly, was in nowise loath +that the thing should be. For Telwyn was a wise man and discerning, and +found Flame a goodly youth, and nought against him for an husband to the +Princess, his daughter. Then was their troth plighted, yet were they +over young to wed, and Telwyn the King spake plain words to Flame, that +it were well he should prove himself in some wise ere he should claim +for bride the Princess Roseheart. + + + + +II. + + +[Sidenote: _The Pool_] + +Now some way from the castle, deep in the forest, was set a Pool, so +deep and still that in its depths was imaged all that bent above its +brim--the fluttering leaves, and long-stemmed flowers, the flashing +flight of birds, and white-winged argosies of cloud. And so shadowed it +was, and so deep beyond depth, that he who looked as far as he might +could see the stars of heaven mirrored therein. + +[Sidenote: _The Faces of Love_] + +Daylong did Flame feed the hunger of his eyes on the beauty of his +beloved, as clad in kirtle of forest-green, girt with gold, she knelt at +the edge of the Pool, or laughing, chased the butterflies, to woo them +to her lips and hair. At whiles deep quiet came upon them as they bent +above the Pool, seeing nought of all it held save only the two faces of +love that looked therein. + +[Sidenote: _Earthlove Sprite Invisible_] + +Upon a day at the hour of golden noon, when all the land swam in a haze +of beauty, a flickering brightness came and passed, when Earthlove, +sprite invisible, touched with his lips these twain, and with a lilt of +laughter rode away athwart a sunbeam. Thereafter did Flame kiss +Roseheart long, upon the mouth, and trembling, gazed into her eyes that +were like still pools, wherein was nought save his own image, more +beautiful than life. And Flame's heart swelled within him, lordly-wise, +for that he dwelt so in the eyes and the heart of his beloved. And in +the eyes of Flame was nought save Roseheart imaged, but swaying as it +were on a surging wave wherethrough ran all the changing lights and +colours of the sea. + +[Sidenote: _The Old Gray Woman_] + +But when it was some while since these things had befallen, the dusk +was come, all suddenly, and there passed strangely over the Pool a +shivering, and from it rose a mist that hid it. The heart of Flame was +troubled, and lifting his eyes to see what was toward, he saw before him +momently a figure of sorrow, Wur, the Old Gray Woman of Shadows, whose +eyes were as misty pools at twilight, her hair as cobwebs matted, and +her garments as the wings of the dusk. Yet upon her, nathless, was a +wistful beauty as of moonlight, wherein were all things wondrous. + +[Sidenote: _Of Sorrow_] + +"Behold!" said Flame in wonder to the maid Roseheart, but she was in +fear of somewhat that was as a thing known and not known, and would not +look, but turned her face to his breast. And Flame spoke unto the Old +Gray Woman of Shadows, saying, "Gray One, I pray thee, what wouldst +thou?" + +[Sidenote: _The Way of Destiny_] + +She answered, and her voice was as the winds of autumn, through bare +branches: "I am Sorrow, and the Way of Destiny, and the Shadow of Things +to be. The flower fadeth, and the flesh falleth away as a garment, but +the seed and the soul shall not perish, except the seed fall on barren +ground, and the soul feed upon the body alone. Ponder ye these things in +your hearts." And in a breath she was gone, leaving upon them a chill +as of the winter death. + +[Sidenote: _Earthlove Once More_] + +Wherefore was Flame of grievous mind for that he did not understand +these things. And Roseheart clung to him weeping, the while he gave her +such sweet comfort as he might. Long he looked upon her in wonder, at +the spun gold of her hair, the white shining about her brows, her deep, +still eyes wherein was nought but his image, her mouth fashioned to joy +and love, and her slender body, curving to the grace of womanhood. And +once again Earthlove, sprite invisible, touched him, and stung him, and +his heart surged with love of the maid, and his man's desire grew great +within him. + +She stirred, and looked into his eyes, and shrank away, for therein was +that which affrighted the peace of her soul. Looking, she saw not only +her fair face, but her whole white body, drifting in the sea-surge of +his eyes, wherein were all the changing lights and colours of the sea. + +[Sidenote: _Sea-Surge and Fire-Bloom_] + +And the soul of Roseheart was faint with the far music of the sea-surge +that was the soul of Flame. Yet being but a young maid, she was in fear +also, saying, "Flame! Thou dishonourest me!" and freed herself, and +sped away fleetly. + +And upon the youth was shame, but a new strength therewith, so that he +refrained him from following her, and cast himself upon the ground and +wept, for that he had affrighted the innocence of Roseheart whom his +soul loved. And a great cry for succor grew in him, and he prayed full +heartily to the Lord God that He would show him His will. + +[Sidenote: _Senta the Radiant One_] + +Thereafter, feeling a presence, he looked up, and his eyes were blinded +with a great light, and he covered his eyes, and bowed his head. Before +him, in garments more shining than the noonday sun, stood Senta, the +Radiant One. She spake, and her voice had the beauty of the sea in +storm, when sudden sunlight, flaming from the West, gives rainbow +colours to the flying foam: "Hearken, Flame, to the voice of Vision, +which the Lord God put into thy soul when thou wast born. From this day +forth shalt thou rest not, but follow thy dream through all the earth +and across the seas. At the last shalt thou find that thou seekest, for +so is it written, but thou shalt not know the manner of thy finding, nor +may I tell thee. Sleep." + +[Sidenote: _The Vision_] + +[Sidenote: _The Woman of Radiance_] + +And upon Flame came sleep as the sleep of the sea at sunrise, midmost +of the summer, whenas the glory of the sky is a great magic in the sea, +swinging as a censer to and fro, that the Lord God may be honoured of +the wonders He hath made. Now the dream of Flame was a dream of +womanhood--of women beautiful as dawn or flowers, of women whose fair +seeming covered evil, women good and women false, maids and mothers and +harlots, drifting, thronging, clamouring, praying, fawning, +passing--until at last came one clad in shining garments, fashioned full +seemly, of white silk that flowed and clung, revealing gracious lines of +her form who walked stately-wise, with little children about her knees. +And Flame saw that her form was radiance, and her eyes were stars, but +he might not discern the fashion of her face for the light thereof. And +he was sore troubled that the seeming of her face was withholden from +him, for he knew in his soul that he had somewhat to do with her. + +[Sidenote: _Mother of Men_] + +Came once more the voice of Senta the Radiant One: "Flame, Maker of +Images, attend my words. This woman shalt thou seek throughout the +world, forasmuch as she is the dream of dreams in thy soul. In the +fullness of thy manhood shalt thou fashion her in pure marble, and she +shall be called Mother of Men. As for thee, thou shalt be called the +Giver of Dreams. Awake." + +And Senta the Radiant One, passing, gathered to her breast with one +swift motion the sprite Earthlove, that had revealed to her Flame and +Roseheart in their need to be taught the wisdom of life which they knew +not. + + + + +III. + + +[Sidenote: _Senta Taketh Earthlove_] + +[Sidenote: _Dreams and Awakening_] + +And when that Senta had taken Earthlove unto herself, and had passed, +the evening was come, and there were stars a-many in the depths of Pool. +Therewith, looking upon them, a great peace came upon Flame, and being +weary, he laid himself down that he might sleep and be refreshed. And as +he slept, he dreamed of that woman whose form was radiance, and whose +eyes were stars. And his fingers stirred, and sought to fashion out of +the earth her form of beauty; but all crumbled under his touch, and he +might not. + +[Sidenote: _The Queen and her Women_] + +When the morning was come, and upon all things lay new freshness as of +the world's beginning, the youth Flame arose and stripped him, and +plunged his body in the Pool that sleep might be shaken from him. +Whereafter he got him to the castle, and when that he had stayed his +hunger with bread and new milk, asked that he might have speech with his +troth-plight, the Princess Roseheart. Then a serving-man led him through +many halls to a great room wherein with their women sat Roseheart and +the Queen her mother. + +[Sidenote: _Beauty Added unto Beauty_] + +And there, in seemly raiment of soft colours, crimson, and the brown of +old wood, and fresh green, the women sat before their looms, and their +frames wherein rich broidery grew under their white fingers. And over +all was sunlight, a flickering whereof was made by blown vines without +the casements, which were open to the morn. There was the whisper of +silk, and much babble of talk, after the fashion of women working. +Shuttles flew in the looms, and white arms wondrous fair in motion drew +forth long silken threads, being wrought into fine stuffs, to the end +that beauty might be added unto beauty. + +[Sidenote: _Roseheart is Troubled_] + +Queen Ellaline sat very still in the midst of these her women. Of +delicate fashion she was, and gentle. Her eyes were widely set, and +blue, and mother-sweet, and her hair was silvering with the caress of +the years. And she was sad in the midst of sunshine, forasmuch as she +was troubled at the mien of the maid, her daughter, who sat with +drooping head and still hands. And in good sooth, the heart of the +Princess was heavy within her, and no little in fear. Nightlong had she +seen the vision of Flame, in whose eyes like the sea lay her white body +floating. Never before since he had loved her had she seen aught but her +soul's self therein, and she was troubled. + +[Sidenote: _Roseheart is Troubled_] + +[Sidenote: _Mother of Men_] + +And now Flame, son of Lokus, lord of that far isle of sea-surge and +fire-bloom, entered in courtly wise this room of work and idleness, of +gayety and gossip, and of love perplexed. In reverent greeting did he +kiss the hand of Queen Ellaline; then turning him to the Princess +Roseheart, he took both of her white hands in his, seeking to look into +her eyes. And soon, for her love of him she might not refrain, and +bravely gave them to his seeing. And for that she was shamefast, in the +way of a maid, she looked as one that saw not. But in the eyes of +Roseheart, he who loved her saw as he was wont only the image and +seeming of himself. And he was sorrowful therewith, forasmuch as he had +thought mayhap to find in the eyes of his love the twin stars of the +woman of his dream. But the thing was not. And remembering the Radiant +One, and the things that she had said, he knew that, will-he, nill-he, +he must fare forth in quest of that woman whose form was radiance, and +whose eyes were stars--her from whom he should fashion his Mother of +Men. + +Then spake Ellaline, the Queen, with quiet voice, saying, "What wouldst +thou, Flame, son of Lokus? My daughter Roseheart hath seeming of some +ill-hap with which thou hast to do." + +[Sidenote: _Flame Speaketh Plainly_] + +[Sidenote: _The Pain of Roseheart_] + +Therewith did Flame drop the hands of Roseheart his love, and standing +before the Queen her mother, he spake on this wise: "I know not what +this thing may be, but somewhat hath been laid upon my will, so that +choice it hath none. Wherefore, though thy daughter Roseheart is as the +blood of my heart to me, and fain would I take her to wife straightway, +yet first must I go across the sea, and through all the earth, until I +find a certain woman whose form is radiance and whose eyes are stars, +that I may fashion of her in pure marble a Mother of Men that shall +fulfill the dream of my soul. Not of my willing is this thing laid upon +me. But the Lord God when I was born put into my soul the vision, and +into my hands the cunning to fashion the shape of my vision. Therefore +must I go, and abide the will of the Lord God lest He destroy me. +Whether I shall return I know not, for many will be the perils of the +way, but in my heart meseems I know that I shall return and take to +wife the maid Roseheart, whom in all honour I love and cherish." + +[Sidenote: _A White Stillness_] + +Hearing these words at the last, Roseheart found somewhat of courage +beyond that she had had, and looked into the eyes of Flame. Therein was +no longer her own white body, as she had feared to see, but the noble +form of a woman whose white silken draperies flowed and clung, whose +form was radiance, and whose eyes were stars. With her were little +children. And Roseheart, gazing, beheld the form of radiance, and the +faces of the children, as somewhat known, and not known, and in her +heart was a white stillness, and no anger that Flame would leave her to +seek this woman, but only the pain of longing, and a meekness like that +of Mary, the Blessed Mother. + +[Sidenote: _Flame, His Farewell_] + +Flame, pitiful of the still sorrow of Roseheart, clasped her to his +breast, and kissed her thrice upon the forehead. But the Lure of the Way +of Life was upon him, and turning strongly from the maid and the Queen, +her mother, he said: "Good greeting must I give you, from the heart, and +long farewell, for that I must be about the business the Lord God hath +set me. But ere I go, I would see Telwyn, and speak with him of that I +have to do." + + + + +IV. + + +[Sidenote: _Flame, His Farewell_] + +All silently they three together sought Telwyn, the King, but now +returned from the hunt, and sitting at meat with his men in the great +banquet hall of the castle. + +[Sidenote: _King Telwyn_] + +A mighty man of sorts was Telwyn. Fierce in war, yet had he also a great +love of peace, of beauty, of mirth and joy, and of his food and wine. +Also had he great discernment for the true things in the hearts of men. +Wherefore, seeing sorrow and heaviness in the faces of the three whom he +loved, who would have speech with him, he bade his men-at-arms and +serving-men depart. + +[Sidenote: _The King Pondereth_] + +When that he had listened all quietly to the words of Flame, there first +came anger into his heart, and a mist upon his sight, for that +Roseheart, his daughter, who was as the remembered joy of his youth, +should be in woe for the going from her of Flame, Son of Lokus, to +follow the gleam of stars in the eyes of the woman of his dream. Yet was +Telwyn proud, and would constrain no man to take unreadily his daughter +Roseheart; and just, for that he remembered what he had said to the +youth, that it were well he should prove himself somewhat ere he should +take the maid in marriage. Therefore with a mighty intake of the breath, +and closing the lids of his eyes, wherein were lightnings, King Telwyn +spake on this wise, his voice as the voice of far thunders: "Flame, son +of Lokus, thou grievest the heart of Telwyn, father of Roseheart, for +that thou puttest the maid in sorrow for thy going. Yet am I a man, and +know the heart of a man in youth. Fain would I give thee of the wisdom I +have learned, but that may not be. + +[Sidenote: _Telwyn Admonisheth Flame_] + +In pain and struggle shalt thou come to thine own wisdom, which is for +thee alone, so that no man may give it thee, but thou must win it. Yet +since thou hast won a maid to her promise, it were meet that thou +shouldst go thy ways carefully, bravely, and in good faith, that thou +mayest return in honour. + +[Sidenote: _Telwyn Admonisheth Flame_] + +I charge thee, see thou to these things lest the vengeance of Telwyn +find thee out, though thou wert in the uttermost parts of the earth. +Lend not thy soul to wine to make a mock of, nor to false women that +they may break it. Bear thou thyself with modesty; give of thy strength +and wit to whomsoever hath need of them. Cheat no man of his due in any +wise, remembering that so thou wouldst cheat thyself of thy birthright, +which is to be one with truth and right in so far as thou canst attain +thereunto. Thou art the son of Lokus, and art bound to carry his name +and blood in honour. I have spoken. Farewell." + + + + +V. + + +[Sidenote: _Ellaline Distraught_] + +[Sidenote: _Ellaline Beholdeth Wur_] + +Now was Ellaline, the Queen, fair distraught, for that she understood +not her own mind in the matter. And her heart was as water with pity of +the maid, and as a sting her tongue, whenas she thought of the going of +Flame, for that to her seeing he had put an affront upon their house. +Yet might she not speak in wrath, when Telwyn her husband had spoken in +quietness. And there came upon her a trembling lest she speak, and +Telwyn's displeasure come upon her. + +[Sidenote: _The Strength of Flame_] + +Wherefore, turning to flee away, lest speaking she do wrong, Ellaline +the Queen saw some way off in the hall a figure of sorrow, Wur, the Old +Gray Woman of Shadows. And being in eld, well she wot that in the coming +of Wur was sign that the Lord God was minded to send upon their house +sorrow and the winds of destiny, and that not for her love and grief +might these things be stayed in anywise. Wherewith she kissed the maid +her daughter tenderly, as in farewell, and fled away straitly, weeping. +And Roseheart was white and still. + +When Flame turned him to the Princess Roseheart, fain would she have had +him kiss her upon the mouth, but he would not, seeking her brow instead, +in all tenderness. And piteous was the face of the maid, that Flame whom +she loved denied her. But the eyes of Telwyn marking the thing, it +seemed good to him that Flame turned him from the lips of his love. Well +did the King know the hearts of men, and right heartily did he hold in +scorn those who had not the wit to fear such things as betray men unto +weakness. + +[Sidenote: _The Going of Flame_] + +Thereafter did Flame get him thence right speedily, to take ship for +far countries. + +The maid Roseheart covered her eyes that she might not see the going of +her beloved. And she wept full sore, and when Telwyn the King would have +comforted her, Wur, the Old Gray Woman of Shadows, came unto her +pitifully, and took her from the arms of her father, and folded her +mantle about her, and led her away all gently. And yielding his little +maid unto Wur, whom well he wot of old, the King was shaken in grief, +that the thing must be and nought might stay it. + + + + +VI. + + +[Sidenote: _Roseheart and Wur_] + +Daylong and nightlong the maid clung to Wur and to none other, and the +Old Gray Woman of Shadows, whose voice was like unto the winds of +Autumn, made sad music of the days and ways of men. Ever she spake, +telling tales of sorrow, whereunto Roseheart listened, saying in her +heart, "There is no sorrow like to mine, who am a widow before I am +wed." + +[Sidenote: _Roseheart Wakes Weeping_] + +Yet there was, withal, in the tales of Wur, a gray beauty that melted +the heart of the maid, even in despite of her own grief, to a vague and +terrible longing to learn what lay at the heart of life. Nightlong did +Wur watch over her, and the maid dreamed in sorrow, to wake weeping. + +[Sidenote: _The Face of Grief_] + +So for a space was grief bitter in the maid, and grievous was the hurt +of all things, for that Flame whom she loved had gone his ways from her. +Then on a day, for pity of the grief wherewith she suffered, a longing +grew in her to look upon the face of her sadness in the Pool in the +forest. Thither she went, therefore, with Wur, the Old Gray Woman of +Shadows, and leaned over the Pool in the wont of her old fashion. And as +with sore pity of herself she looked into the Pool, upon the face of +grief that was hers, she saw that in her eyes, which aforetime had held +nought save the face of Flame, was an image that blotted out all else. +Semblance it had of an image of Wur, the Old Gray Woman of Shadows, +whose hair was as cobwebs matted, whose eyes were as misty pools at +twilight, and whose garments were as the wings of the dusk. Yet as the +maid looked more nearly, she saw that the form had only the seeming of +Wur, and was in good sooth that of Roseheart herself, stricken in grief +to the likeness of Wur. + +Arising in wonder she turned her to look upon Wur, and in the face of +the Old Gray Woman of Shadows she saw strangely the semblance of +herself, Roseheart. And at the horror and mystery of this thing which +she might not understand, the maid shrieked with terror. And when the +Old Gray Woman would have folded her in her arms to quiet her, the maid +would not, and shrank away, and prayed for help to the Lord God that she +might have comfort. + +[Sidenote: _There Came a Radiance_] + +And there came a radiance, growing ever brighter, until Wur, the Old +Gray Woman of Shadows, might not stay, but fled away before that which +was more shining than the noonday sun. And Roseheart was ware of a +presence she might not see for the brightness. + +[Sidenote: _The Coming of Senta_] + +Then spake Senta, the Radiant One, the Voice of Vision, unto the maid +Roseheart, full gently, yet in the manner of one who may not be +gainsaid: "Roseheart, beloved of Flame, who shall be called Giver of +Dreams, lift up thy heart. Well hast thou learned the lore of sorrow +that Wur hath taught thee, and these things it is needful that thou +shouldst know. But too much hast thou made thyself one with sorrow, to +the end that it hath grown dear to thee. This thing may not be. Pity +that seeketh not itself makes pure the heart of man, but pity of thyself +for thine own woe is another matter, whereto thou must look else will +thy sorrow destroy thee. Thou shalt arise, therefore, and go unto thy +father Telwyn the King, and thy mother, the Queen Ellaline. Sore have +been their hearts that thou wert in grief. It should be thy task rather, +to bring them joy who are stricken in years. + +[Sidenote: _Vision and Dreams_] + +"But since joy is not made of nought, and since there is now in thee +sorrow alone, I say unto thee, go thy ways among the people of thy +father the King, and of thy grief make garments of joy to cover the +nakedness of the poor withal. Take to them that are sick the flowers of +thy kindness, that shall be as the snowdrops blossoming under the mantle +of the winter of thy grief. Look into the eyes of the old and find +patience, and into the hearts of the children and find hope. Tend thou +the bed of pain, and ease the woe of the sons of men in such measure as +thou mayest. Therewith shall all things befall thee as the Lord God +desireth. Unto me, Senta, it is vouchsafed to give thee vision, and a +dream, even as I gave these things unto Flame, thy beloved. Sleep." + +[Sidenote: _The Starry-eyed_] + +And Roseheart laid her down in the deep sleep as of a rosebud in the sun +at mid-day, when life in a great tide flows and greatens, to the end +that the rose may be full-blown. And the dream of Roseheart was on this +wise: There was a woman in shining garments, fashioned full seemly of +white silk that flowed and clung, revealing gracious lines of her form +who walked stately-wise, with little children about her knees. Her form +was radiance, and her eyes were stars. And in the fashion of her +seeming, and in the faces of the children, was somewhat as it were a +thing known and not known. Then beheld Roseheart the seeming of Flame, +her beloved, looking in joy and reverence upon this woman whose form was +radiance, and whose eyes were stars. + +And Senta the Radiant One said unto Roseheart: "Behold and see if this +be not she whom thou didst look upon at the last in the eyes of Flame +whom thou lovest." And it was so, and Roseheart marveled. + +[Sidenote: _The Heart of the Maid_] + +Whereafter Senta bade her awake, and she awoke and pondered these +things what they might mean. And in the heart of the maid there grew and +strengthened the desire and the will to be as that woman of her dream, +whose beauty was as music under the moon, and in all reverence beloved +of her troth-plight, Flame. Thus are women ever, in their deep need to +be in all ways that they may, the desired of their lord. + + + + +VII. + + +[Sidenote: _Roseheart Gives Greeting_] + +When all things had become clear to Roseheart she arose swiftly, and +went unto Telwyn the King, and the Queen her mother. And upon her face +was a shining which was the shining of her soul. And she said unto them, +"I give you greeting, my father and my mother." + +[Sidenote: _The Going of Wur_] + +And looking upon her they were glad exceedingly, and exchanged looks the +one with the other, for that the face of Roseheart was no longer gray +with grief. + +First answered Ellaline, saying, "Greeting to thee, my daughter. Where +now is Wur, that thou hast the look of happiness?" + +Sudden wonder made wide the eyes of Roseheart. "In good sooth I know +not," she answered. "I have not seen her at all any more since the +coming of the Shining One." + +Telwyn the King leaned him forward in eagerness, asking, "The Shining +One? What meanest thou?" + +[Sidenote: _Roseheart, Her Task_] + +[Sidenote: _Telwyn Perceiveth_] + +Into the face of Roseheart came the far, wondering look of children, +but in her heart was a song. "I know not," she made answer, "unless it +was an angel of the Lord God, to shew me the things that I must do, and +that which I must become." Herewith the voice of the maid grew wondrous +sweet. "Of my garment of sorrow must I make raiment of joy to cover the +nakedness of the poor. To the sick must I take the flowers of kindness +that are now as snowdrops blossoming under the mantle of the winter of +grief. I am to look into the eyes of the old and find patience, and into +the hearts of children and find hope. And I am to tend the bed of pain, +and ease the suffering of the sons of men in such measure as I may, +that all things may befall me as the Lord God desireth." + +Into the face of Telwyn there came a tenderness like that of women, and +in his voice were the tears a man may not suffer in his eyes. "Great is +the joy in my heart," he said, "for that thou art indeed become a woman. +And well I wot that the Lord God is with thee, that thou knowest these +things of wisdom." + +[Sidenote: _The Queen Speaketh_] + +And Ellaline, looking into the face of her daughter, drew her to her +heart, and spake on this wise: "Deep grief has it been to me that in thy +pain I might not help thee, but must leave thee to the care of Wur, +that woman of sorrow. Nathless have I prayed for thee without ceasing. +Blessed be the name of the Lord God that He hath found the Way for +thee." + +[Sidenote: _Telwyn and Roseheart_] + +Now on the morrow when Telwyn the King went among his people, to see +that all was well, and nought amiss that might be set right, he put +Roseheart his daughter upon a white palfrey; and himself upon a mighty +red horse, led her whithersoever he went, that she might see all things +in the wisdom and tenderness newly come to her. And from his deep eyes +like the caverns of the sky, he watched her, as pity grew in her, and +knowledge, and quick device of succor. Daylong they rode, at the +noontide having bite and sup with a woodcutter and his wife, newly +blessed with a fine man child. And Roseheart, taking the child in her +arms, laughed and wept that he was so small and sweet, and for that he +clung to her, and turned to her breast. And when the shadows grew long, +and they set their faces toward the castle, the maid was sore weary, but +she knew it not, for the pity in her, and the thought of all awry in the +world that must be set right. + +[Sidenote: _Roseheart Steadfast_] + +And it befell that she dreamed that night of a babe that lay upon her +breast, and so sweet it was, that she woke weeping for very joy. + +Thereafter daily the maid went forth with the King her father, or at +whiles with the Queen her mother, whenas she was wont to say unto Telwyn +with sweet gravity, "This is a matter for women, of which thou knowest +nought." + +[Sidenote: _Her Need and Desire_] + +And the King smiled in his beard at the woman-ways of her. But hours +there were when that Roseheart was a-weary, and an-hungered for Flame, +her troth-plight lord. Yet always, remembering her dream, she arose from +grief, and with the trouble of others, and what she might do for them, +filled the emptiness of her heart. And so great was her need and desire +to become as the woman of the great dream, that slowly as a slender moon +fills with silver, or a rosebud greatens to fullness, did Roseheart the +maid grow in fashion and seeming and good sooth toward the very truth of +her desire, to be as that woman whose form was radiance and whose eyes +were stars. + + + + +VIII. + + +[Sidenote: _Thrice Bloomed the Rose_] + +Thrice the snowdrops came and went, thrice bloomed the rose; thrice the +harvest ripened to the scythe, and winter flushed to spring, and Flame, +son of Lokus, was not yet come from overseas to claim his promise of his +troth-plight maiden. + +[Sidenote: _Flame Journeyeth_] + +[Sidenote: _He Groweth in Strength_] + +Long had he wandered from land to land, seeking ever the shape of his +dream. Ever he made forms of beauty with his hands, whatsoever he saw, +and men marveled thereat, so cunning-true they were, and skillful. And +everywhere was he tempted with all manner of lures to flesh and spirit +that he forsake his dream and take his ease and pleasure like other men, +but he would not. And it befell that on a day when he was riding through +the forest, he came upon a carle that beat a woman, his wife. And Flame +was wroth with the carle, and fell upon him in fury, that so he should +misuse the strength that God had given him. And the anger of Flame was +as the strength of ten men, but when he had the throat of the man in his +fingers, and would have slain him, all suddenly his anger was not. And +in good pity of the fellow that he was yet in youth, he loosed him, and +admonished him, and went his ways. And the strength of the man that he +had spared to God's good life was added to his own strength. + +[Sidenote: _He Serveth Need_] + +[Sidenote: _He Fareth On_] + +And with his good strength of the body was come strength of his soul +also. Wherefore, when in his wanderings he came upon a fair land wherein +was much kindness, and after a while that land, which had an aged king, +was threatened by savage men from wild forest land beyond, he girded on +his sword and led the people in war that they might put to confusion +the savage men who sought to slay them, and take their fat lands, and +the homes where they were born. And when their enemies were driven out, +the old King embraced with tears him who had risked his life for them, +and besought him, saying, "Flame, son of Lokus, what wouldst thou? +Whatsoever thou ask, that will I give thee." And Flame, with a look of +far horizons in his eyes that were like the sea, answered him on this +wise: "God be gracious to thee for thy kindness, but it is I who am in +thy debt, for that I have learned the sweetness of giving myself wholly, +even unto death, if need be, that innocent folk should not suffer, nor +evil prevail. I am a selfish man, thinking little enough of other folk, +as I go my way dreaming, and that now I have seen somewhat other than +that is a mercy of the Lord God." + +[Sidenote: _Of Black Words_] + +And though the people clamoured that he should stay with them, he went +his way, and came into a new land, and dwelt there for a time. And being +comely, with grace and courtliness in his mien, and the beauty of the +sea in his eyes, when he looked eagerly into the faces of women, seeking +his dream, many were sick with love of him. And they made devices that +he should tarry with them, some in innocence and good faith, as a maid +may, and some fawning, and whispering black words to the youth and heat +of his blood. + +Of these last there came betimes a witch-woman, who discerning with +cunning the eyes of Flame that they were like the sea, made herself as a +moon-woman, that he should follow her. And Flame, looking upon her, +whose face was as silver, felt somewhat surge within him answering her +desire. And the woman glided before him until they were come into the +desert. + +[Sidenote: _The Moon-Woman_] + +And when the moon-woman moved not so swiftly, but lingered, and Flame +would have touched her, she laughed, and would and would not, and +reaching for her, he stumbled, and fell upon the ground, yet held her +fast. And the night was black upon them. + +[Sidenote: _The Face of Leprosy_] + +When the early morning was come, Flame turned him from the moon-woman +exulting that now at last he had drunk of the cup, desire whereof had +tormented him. But as he turned, some way off in brightness stood Senta +the Radiant One. And she drew near, and spake not, but shed her light, +without pity, upon the moon-woman. And Flame saw that she was not +beautiful, but a hag, and her face of silver the face of leprosy, white +and horrible, and as old as the world. And he looked about him, and saw +in the desert the bones of men. Then did he cry out in fear, "I am in +the place of the dead!" + +And he rose up swiftly and fled away till he was come to the edge of the +desert, and thence into a gentle land, of murmuring streams, and trees +on the which was fruit of divers kinds, and good to the taste. And after +that Flame had drunk of the waters, and eaten of the fruit, the Lord God +was pitiful of his shame and weariness, and he slept. + +[Sidenote: _Cometh the Dream_] + +[Sidenote: _The Voice of Vision_] + +Sleeping, once more he dreamed of that woman of radiance, starry-eyed. +But whereas aforetime he might not see the fashion of her face, it was +now revealed to him in the seeming of his troth-plight maiden, +glorified. Now was the rose full blown, the child become a woman, in +strength, and tenderness, and wisdom, and her beauty was as music under +the moon. Then unto him in his dream spake the Voice of Vision on this +wise: "Now that thou hast proved thyself in turning thee from the place +of the dead, shalt thou have fullness of life, withal. Thou hast looked +upon death in battle, and feared not, for that thou sawest therein that +life which is greater than thine own life; and thou hast looked upon +that life which is sin, and hast seen therein the death of the spirit. +Wherefore arise, and go straightway to claim the maiden Roseheart for +thy wife, that the true life of body and spirit may be fulfilled unto +thee. And whatsoever thou fashionest with thy hands, that shalt thou +fashion also with thy heart and soul, in the light of the vision the +Lord God hath given thee. Arise." + +[Sidenote: _Strength Fulfilled_] + +With a great cry of joy he awoke, and strength was fulfilled to him as +it had been a fountain, ever leaping and ever renewed. Wherewith +straightway he arose, and girt up his mantle for the journey, that +swift might be the way of his going. + + + + +IX. + + +[Sidenote: _Flame Returneth_] + +[Sidenote: _The People at Games_] + +Unto the days of three moons he journeyed, over land and sea, and at +last he was come into the country of Telwyn, wherein were peace, and +good harvest, and labour for all that would. And while he was yet some +way off, upon a hill, he saw that the people were gathered together in a +great meadow, and there rose to him on the wind a great song of joy that +they were singing. + +And drawing near he saw that some of the people were playing at games in +the meadow, quoits and bowls, and other games of skill of divers kinds, +with trials of strength and daring for the eager blood of youth. And +there were horses a-many, and on them men laughing and jesting, and +there were women and children, some hundreds, clad in fluttering +garments of all the colours of joy. + +[Sidenote: _The Day of Joy_] + +In the midst of the throng there sat upon a dais a woman in shining +raiment of cloth of silver, broidered with roses that had caught their +colour from the rose tint of her face. And her hair of spun gold was +bound with a silver fillet, fashioned in all delicacy, and colored to +the semblance of the roses that were in the pattern thereof, with leaves +cunningly wrought of green gold. Standing beside her was a young page +clad in crimson who carried a tray whereon were ribbands of bright +colours, the which the Princess Roseheart, for she it was in the shining +raiment, did upon those who were victors in the games and contests. + +[Sidenote: _The Morning of Life_] + +Great was the pride of the people that the Princess had come amongst +them in their merrymaking. Long had she been with them in sorrow and +service, but not before this day in the joy of the morning of life, and +they deemed it of good augury for her happiness. + +[Sidenote: _Cometh Flame_] + +Now when Flame, yet some way off, saw that the woman in shining raiment +was the beloved of his soul, Roseheart, his heart leapt within him, and +there was upon his limbs the speed of light. But betimes it came to him +that travel was upon his garments, and that it were not fit he should +dishonour his troth-plight maiden by coming before her eyes in aught +unworthy. Wherefore he turned him aside from the meadow, and made such +haste as he might toward the castle midmost of the forest. + +When he was come thither, he found therein only a few old serving men +and women, for that all others were making holiday in the meadow, the +King, Telwyn, and the Queen Ellaline, as well as the humblest folk in +the castle. + +[Sidenote: _Sea-Surge and Fire-Bloom_] + +And Flame got him right speedily to the great room that had been for his +sleeping aforetime. There, as of old, was a great chest wherein were the +garments he had brought with him from his home, the isle of sea-surge +and fire-bloom. Therefrom he chose raiment of rich silk wherein leapt +and flickered all colours as of driftwood burning--copper, and blue, and +green, and rose, and violet--with a broidered cloak of velvet like clear +flame. And he did on a sword the hilt whereof was wrought in divers hues +of pure gold. + +And when all was done, and in the wont of youth he looked upon his +likeness in a mirror of silver that was there, he laughed in his heart +for that he was young and comely, and for that he was now returned to +the home of his heart. + +[Sidenote: _The Silken Tent_] + +Then with all speed he betook him thence to the great meadow. And when +he was come thither, he saw that a little way off at the edge of the +forest was a silken tent that was like a purple iris, so beautiful it +was, and that thereunder were King Telwyn and Queen Ellaline, looking +upon the pleasure of their people. + +[Sidenote: _Of Queen Ellaline_] + +And Flame saw that whereas the Princess Roseheart had been in the midst +of the crowd when first he had seen her, she was now with her father and +mother, the King and Queen, under the canopy, that had been set in a +mossy glade flecked with sunlight and shadow, and glad with delicate +flowers. The maid stood at the side of the Queen her mother talking +shiningly of all that had befallen that morning. And the Queen Ellaline, +most fair indeed to look upon, in thin silk of silver-grey, wherethrough +showed under-silks of blue and violet, smiled happily at the life and +eagerness of the maid her daughter. + +[Sidenote: _Of Greetings_] + +And when the people saw that Flame, the son of Lokus, was come once +more, from overseas, to claim his troth-plight, the Princess Roseheart, +they pressed upon him clamouring, glad with great joy that the youth was +grown a man, in full stature of strength and bravery. And Flame +returned their greetings in all courtesy and kindness, but ever his +eyes turned whither his heart drave, toward the tent like an iris, +whereunder, like one dreaming, stood the woman of his heart and his +dream, now motionless, with her soul in her eyes. + +[Sidenote: _A Silver Trumpet Singing_] + +And when King Telwyn made sure that the figure of flickering beauty that +burned its way through the crowd of the people was Flame, son of Lokus, +and none other, his heart was as a harp, swept with chords of joy and +questioning, of fear, and a nameless pain that now mayhap he must give +his little maid, that was as the remembered joy of his youth, to the +clasp of a man, in whom should be her life thenceforward. But the heart +of Queen Ellaline was as a silver trumpet singing, that the maid her +daughter was now to live the life of a woman, giving her life to a man, +that it should be greatened unto her, and to the world. + + + + +X. + + +[Sidenote: _The Humility of Pride_] + +[Sidenote: _The Return In Honour_] + +Now when Flame was come before the King and Queen and the Princess +Roseheart, he was filled with the humility of those who have great +pride, insomuch that he fell upon his knees before them to beg that +which aforetime he had asked as in the ignorance of a child. But ere he +could speak, King Telwyn put forth his hand and raised him, saying, +"Flame, son of Lokus, thou art a thousand times welcome. Hearty +greeting we give thee, in good faith that thou hast returned in +honour." + +Then spake Flame on this wise: "Greeting from the heart I give thee. +Meseems my heart will burst with the fullness of my joy that I am come +once more to the home of my love, to look upon her beauty, and to give +into her keeping all that I have, and all that I am, for she is the soul +of my soul." + +[Sidenote: _The Eagerness of Flame_] + +Then, bethinking himself that he must remember in courtesy to put before +his own desires that which was due to others, he made obeisance to the +Queen, Ellaline, who greeted him with kindness, asking him whether he +had had food and drink since his journey. + +"Nay," he said, "how should that have been, when I was so much more +an-hungered to see quickly the face of my beloved?" And he turned him to +his love, Roseheart, standing very still, with her soul in her eyes. + +[Sidenote: _The Woman of Stars_] + +With quick woman-wit then did Queen Ellaline motion the serving men that +they should draw the curtains of the tent, themselves standing without. +And the King and Queen withdrew also, that the lovers might be alone. +Whereupon Roseheart, her silver cloak falling from her, stood forth to +Flame as that woman whose form was radiance, and whose eyes were stars, +she that was clad in shining raiment, fashioned full seemly of white +silk that flowed and clung, revealing gracious lines of her form, who +walked stately-wise, with little children about her knees. + +[Sidenote: _Flame Falleth Upon His Knees_] + +And upon the sight of Flame was a mist, and when it had passed and he +looked again, the little children were not as they were living, but like +wraiths of divers colours, making as it were a rainbow in the midst +whereof stood one still a maid. And Flame fell upon his knees, and +called upon her name. And she set her two hands upon his head, and +lifting it gently, looked down into his soul. And when they had come to +understanding on this wise, she gave her hands into his, and lifted him +up. And he drew her to his heart, and kissed her on the mouth, whereat +she was all a woman, and clung to him, saying with little broken cries, +"It hath been so lonely without thee--I love thee so!" + +[Sidenote: _The Finding_] + +Remembering the pain and struggle of his quest, Flame cried out, +"Wherefore did I go from thee?" Yet even as he spake, right well he knew +how it had been needful that all things should have befallen them as +they had done. + +Then did the face of Roseheart grow wistful-sweet, and she asked, "The +woman of thy dream--didst thou find her?" And Flame answered, "Aye, I +have found her. Dost thou not know? Thou thyself art that radiant woman, +starry-eyed. I know not what hath befallen thee, save that the starry +heavens, that look upon all things, have made thine eyes their +dwelling-place." + +[Sidenote: _Beyond Self_] + +[Sidenote: _The Remembered Vision_] + +Whereupon Roseheart, his beloved, chided him on this wise, with a +laughter that was of the soul, and naught unkind in it: "My happiness +is so deep, I needs must laugh at thee. Meseems the truth is that +aforetime thou sawest only thyself in mine eyes, and that now thou hast +learned to look beyond thyself. And thus it hath been with me also. Once +I saw not anything but myself in thine eyes, but now therein I see ships +and far countries, and the forms of beauty that thou hast dreamed, and +those which thou shalt create in the years to come. When first I saw in +thine eyes that woman of thy dream, of whom thou hadst spoken, sorrow +and humility were heavy upon me, for that I understood not why there +should be aught in thine eyes but thy love, Roseheart. But there came a +time--" She was silent for a moment that she might hear the music of the +remembered vision. "Have I grown like her--in good sooth?" she +whispered. + +"Thou art she," answered Flame, "the soul of my soul." + +"And what of thee?" whispered Roseheart. "What hast thou learned of life +in thy far countries?" + +[Sidenote: _The Feast is Spread_] + +Whereupon he answered, as the Voice of Vision had told him, "I have +looked upon death for right's sake, and seen therein the life greater +than mine own life; and I have looked upon the life which is sin and +have seen therein the death of the spirit. I have much to tell thee, for +that there must be nought but truth between us." + +Then did King Telwyn himself draw the curtains of the tent and look +within, smiling. "Flame, son of Lokus, the feast is spread for thee, +though well I wot thou knowest not if thou art hungry. But time and +enough will there be for talk with thy speech-friend and troth-plight +maiden, when thou hast eaten thy meat, and refreshed thee from thy +journey. Wherefore come now, the both of you, and shew yourselves unto +the people, that all may rejoice." + +[Sidenote: _Feasting and Laughter_] + +Thereupon did Flame, son of Lokus, lead forth his troth-plight maiden +Roseheart, to a great table that had been spread under the trees, with a +silken cloth, and great dishes of silver and gold, whereon were roast +flesh, and new bread, and green things steaming and savoury, and fruits +of divers sorts, good to the taste and beautiful. And there were flagons +of wine, crimson, and of the colour of corn, and of brown like the +leaves of autumn. + +[Sidenote: _Flame Speaketh Modestly_] + +Then was there feasting and laughter, and Flame, son of Lokus, told +many tales of far countries--of strange customs, and cunning of +husbandry and handicraft; of wars and the courts of Kings; of mightily +mountains, of great seas and the storms thereof, wherein he himself had +laboured mightily with the men of the ship that they should not perish +all. + +[Sidenote: _The Queen Taketh Note_] + +And for that all he spake on these matters was shrewd and well taken, +and modest withal, King Telwyn, listening, marked with gladness the +manhood that had come to this youth of the isle of sea-surge and +fire-bloom. And he was right well pleased, also, that the troth-plight +of his daughter was returned with clear eyes and noble bearing, and +courtesy and readiness for all that made speech with him. + +[Sidenote: _Roseheart Hath Pride_] + +And Queen Ellaline, in the wont of elder women, had eyes to the way of +Flame with his wine, the which he took gladly, as becomes a man, but not +overmuch; and she was content. Roseheart, sitting beside her mother, the +Queen, had thought for none but her troth-plight lord whom she loved; +yet marked with pride his thought and courtesy for all that sat at meat +with them. There was that in her which remembered with joy and +tenderness how that he had thought aforetime only of themselves and +their love; but now was she proud that her lord was become a man among +men, for well she knew that with all he said and did in any wise, there +ran always the music of his joy in her, and the love of his soul for +hers. + + + + +XI. + + +[Sidenote: _The Shadows Grow Long_] + +[Sidenote: _Queen Ellaline Speaketh_] + +Now when they had eaten and drunk their fill, and had had much talk +withal, the shadows had grown long, and bird-song rippled the air in the +wont of sundown. Wherefore King Telwyn bethought him how it would be +pleasant that the four of them, the Queen, the Princess Roseheart, and +her troth-plight lord, Flame, should walk in the forest for a space, ere +yet they returned to the castle. + +But Queen Ellaline said to him, "Nay, my lord, shall not thou and I +return to the castle alone? Well I wot these twain have much to say, +each to the other. Were it not well that they should walk apart in the +forest in the cool of the evening, if that be their wish?" + +And King Telwyn smiled thereat, saying, "Well, well! Certain it is that +I am but a stupid man, and thy woman's wit in the right of it." And +therewith he bade the young pair go apart as they wished for the space +of an hour or two. + +[Sidenote: _Flame Showeth Gratitude_] + +But ere they went their ways, Flame raised to his lips the hand of the +Queen, and kissed it, forasmuch as he was grateful to her exceedingly +that she had had thought and remembrance of the need of young lovers to +be alone together. + +Whereafter, the King and the Queen having turned their steps to the +castle, Flame and the Princess Roseheart wandered in sweet content in +the path that led to the Pool, where aforetime they had found their love +and their destiny. + +[Sidenote: _Roseheart Radiant_] + +And when they were come thither, they found there, fluttering like +butterflies in a shaft of sunlight that came under the trees and among +the stems thereof, children that sported about the Pool. And these, +forsaking their play, clamoured about the Princess Roseheart, in sweet +rivalry of her love and her touch. And forasmuch as his beloved stood +now in the shaft of sunlight, radiant, starry-eyed, with little children +about her knees, Flame, the Giver of Dreams, worshiped her in his soul, +and stooped him to the earth that he might seize the clay thereof, and +mixing it with water from the Pool, fashion the likeness of her. But +though mightily he strove, the cunning of his hands was withholden from +him, and he might not. + +[Sidenote: _The Dusk Cometh_] + +Then the children, seeing it was late, flitted away to their homes, and +the sunlight grew faint and fainter, until the dusk was come, all +suddenly. And as the twain stood a little apart, each from the other, +there passed between them, as she had been a night-moth, Wur, the Old +Gray Woman of Shadows, whose eyes were as misty pools at twilight, her +hair like cobwebs matted, and her garments as the wings of the dusk. And +momently there was upon them a chill as of the winter-death. + +[Sidenote: _Hand in Hand_] + +Then did Flame know in his heart that he must tell his white-souled +love, Roseheart, of the moon-woman in the desert. And his heart shook at +thought of her grief and trouble thereat. But being a true man, and +strong for the more part, he knew that it were an ill thing to set +forward the time of saying that which must be said. Therefore he took +his love by the hand, and led her to a mossy bank, whereupon they sat +them down, hand in hand. After a little he said: "There is a thing that +I must tell thee, but because thou art a maid and innocent, I know not +if thou wilt understand." + +[Sidenote: _Flame Confesseth_] + +And seeing his trouble she answered him gently: "Meseems thou couldst +not do anything I would not understand." + +Drawing her close within the shelter of his arms he said, "Thou +believest that I love thee as my heart's blood?" + +"Verily," she made answer, "that must I needs believe, else could I not +wed thee." Then because he was silent a space, as one thinking, she +said, "What is it that thou wouldst say to me?" + +[Sidenote: _Speech Faileth Him_] + +With quick words then he spake on this wise: "Know then that there was a +woman--a witch that made herself as a woman of moonlight, beautiful +exceedingly, that I should follow her. And forasmuch as mine eyes and my +blood are as the sea, I might not refrain, for my weakness, but +followed her as the sea the moon. And we came into the desert, and there +remained for a space." Then did the speech of Flame fail him, for that +he knew not how to say that which must be said. + +[Sidenote: _Life Dishonoured_] + +And Roseheart looked upon him shrinkingly, and put away his arms, and +rose, and stood away from him. And in her eyes that had held stars, +there came a mist, as when the heavens grow dull with that which is not +storm, but more like to sickness. "And thou--" she whispered, "didst +thou give thyself to this woman?" + +"Yea, but in the way of the flesh only," he answered, shamefast. "I know +not if a maid can understand." + +Then was Roseheart silent a space, whereafter she said slowly, "Meseems +that therein lay the sin of what thou didst. Hadst thou given thyself +body and soul, thy sin against me had been greater, but methinks then +would it have been less against the Lord God, whose gift of life thou +hast dishonoured." + +[Sidenote: _The Radiant One_] + +Then spake Flame eagerly, "But I told thee she was a witch-woman. Thou +rememberest the Radiant One?" + +"Aye." The Princess Roseheart was grave and sorrowful. "When that I +turned me away from the moon-woman I saw the Radiant One, and she came +and said naught, but shed her light upon the woman, and I saw that she +was not beautiful, like the moon, but a hag, and leprous. Wherefore, +looking about me I saw the bones of the dead. And I rose and fled away +from that place." + +"Thou didst well." + +[Sidenote: _Flame Shamefast_] + +Then was Flame filled with terror that though she spake in all +gentleness, his love Roseheart was become as a stranger to him. +Straightway he went to her, saying, "Canst thou not forgive?" + +"I know not," she made answer, with the weariness of one in mortal pain. + +[Sidenote: _Thoughts of Torment_] + +Then he sought to put his arms about her, and draw her to him, but she +looked at him as one in surprise, and therewith he feared to touch her. +And he fell upon his knees, and buried his face, shamefast, in the hem +of her garment, and wept that he had so wounded her whom his soul loved. +With all gentleness she put him away from her, and went apart. And her +eyes were dry, but her heart bled, so that she was as one sick unto +death. + +Her thoughts pricked her with torment, that her lord whom she had +worshipped kneeling, as is the wont of women, was proven but a weak +creature on whom she might not lean for strength, for that he had it +not. And it was bitter to her that he whom she had thought to be a man +such as the Lord God had meant in the making of the world, had been but +as a child, or blind, that he had been deceived by the moon-woman. +Wherefore her heart, that had shrined a god, was now empty. + + + + +XII. + + +[Sidenote: _The Need of Flame_] + +For some while did Flame lie upon the ground as one dead, but presently +his manhood arose and stood before the Princess Roseheart, saying, "Then +wilt thou send me from thee?" + +[Sidenote: _A New Sweetness_] + +[Sidenote: _Roseheart Forgiveth_] + +And looking upon his manhood, that would face what must come to it, she +saw therewith somewhat that wrung her heart, the look of a little child, +with wistful eyes, and mouth that quivered. And she saw that his need +of her was greater than it had been aforetime, as of a child for his +mother. Wherewith into her heart that had been empty of all things +whenas the god might dwell there no longer, there came a new sweetness +it could scarce hold, so great was the flood thereof. And through her +body and her soul the sweetness surged, so that there remained no +bitterness at all, but a great gladness, as of the singing of many +waters in spring. In her face was the look as of a young mother looking +upon her first man-child that she hath borne in pain with thanksgiving. + +Flame, looking upon the glory that was her face, fell at her feet, +crying, "Thou wilt forgive?" + +And she lifted him up, and drew his head to her breast, saying the while +little words of love and comforting. Whereafter, he stood straight +before her, and they looked each into the other's eyes as they had been +spirits out of the flesh. + +[Sidenote: _Somewhat of New Beauty_] + +And there came a shining round about them, that was brighter than the +noonday sun, for that Senta, the Radiant One, was come and stood near +them. And Flame saw that in the face of his love was somewhat that had +not been there before, for the beauty whereof his soul sang. As one in a +dream he stooped him to the earth once more to take of the clay thereof +and fashion her his Mother of Men. + +[Sidenote: _The Meaning of Love_] + +But ere he might do the thing he would, Senta the Radiant One drew near, +and spake unto them, and her voice was as the music of a mighty +pine-wood raising to heaven a paean of triumph in a great wind of +spring, with the voices of children therethrough, like little singing +streams. And the words of Senta were these: "Joy to you that ye have +learned somewhat whereof life and love are made! Roseheart, beloved of +Flame, son of Lokus, now art thou become in very truth a Mother of Men +in thy woman's soul, for that thou hast learned the meaning of love, +which is to minister, to suffer, to understand, and to forgive. And thou +too, Flame, hast learned of it, insomuch that love constrained thee in +the pride of thy manhood to become as a little child that thou mightest +be forgiven. But stay thy hand, even yet, until thou hast taken the maid +to wife, and made her in good sooth a mother of men according to the +flesh. Then only shalt thou be given fullness of vision, and shalt +fashion her in pure marble to be as a dream forever in the hearts of +men." + +[Sidenote: _The Sign and Symbol_] + +With the passing of Senta, the Radiant One, was full evening come. And +Flame, Fashioner and Giver of Dreams, led the Princess Roseheart, his +love and troth-plight maiden, to the brink of the Pool, in wonder beyond +speech, and a silence as of music. For the Pool held deep within deep; +and far beyond their two faces of love, they beheld as in the night blue +of heaven, the stars that the Lord God had set therein to be a sign and +symbol unto men of the things beyond the flesh. + + + * * * * * + +And here ends this story of "The Stars in the Pool." Written by Edna +Kingsley Wallace. Set in Type by the Odets Printing Company, in the Year +of Our Lord One thousand nine hundred and twenty, and Published by E. P. +Dutton and Company in the City of New York. + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's Note. + + + Title page spelling of "auther" was corrected to "author." + + Page 16 "s e -surge" was corrected to "sea-surge." + + Page 29 "He He" was corrected to "He." + + Archaic spellings, syntax and other anomalies remain as in original. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Stars in the Pool, by Edna Kingsley Wallace + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STARS IN THE POOL *** + +***** This file should be named 35654.txt or 35654.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/6/5/35654/ + +Produced by Sigal Alon, Matthew Wheaton, Fox in the Stars +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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